walking securely

In Gbaya, the notion of walking securely, i.e. quietly and without trouble, in Proverbs 3:23 is emphasized with the ideophone sɛ́ɛ́m, which expresses quietly, mouth closed.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

See also quiet / quietly

complete verse (Proverbs 3:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 3:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then you will do things in (a) way without conflict that you may not meet (an) obstacle/stumbling block.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It will keep on protecting you on your way,
    and your foot will not stumble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “And you (sing.) will-live free from disaster and you (sing.) will- not -be-harmed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If you (sing.) do that, good will be the path-you (sing.)-take and you (sing.) will have no instance/cause-of-stumbling.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 3:23

“Then you will walk on your way securely”: “Then” marks verse 23 as a further consequence of possessing wisdom. “Walk . . . securely” (and “stumble” in the next line) may be used figuratively to represent living with assurance (and failing to do so). However, in the light of verse 24, it probably is best to take these verbs as referring to going about the daily business of life. “Walk on your way” is equivalent to “go on your way” or “go about your life.” Bible en français courant has “Go forward with assurance.” “Securely” means safely, without threat or danger.

“Your foot will not stumble”: This line repeats and strengthens the idea expressed in the first line. “Stumble” means to trip while walking or running. The word is often used figuratively of making a moral false step or doing wrong. The literal expression is “strike your foot.” This expression is also found in Psa 91.12, with the addition “against a stone.” In that passage the guidance is given by angels. Here it is given by wisdom. Some translations render this line simply “and you will not fall over.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:23

3:23

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

23a Then you will go on your way in safety,

23b and your foot will not stumble.

3:23a–b

Then: This verse expresses additional results of obeying the commands in 3:21. In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit a word such as “also” to make clear that these are additional results in a series of results.

you will go on your way in safety…your foot will not stumble: These parallel metaphors compare life to a journey in which a person’s wisdom protects him from harm. The first line refers to protection in general. The second line is more literally “strike your foot.” It refers to protection from even a minor accident, such as stubbing one’s toe against something on the path. In the second line, the phrase your foot represents the whole person. For example:

You can go safely on your way and never even stumble. (Good News Translation)

The New Century Version translates the meaning of the second line without the figure of speech:

…and you will not get hurt. (New Century Version)

This may be an option for languages in which the figure of stumbling is understood only literally.

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