Translation commentary on Proverbs 3:24

“If you sit down, you will not be afraid”: “Sit down” follows the wording of the Septuagint. The Hebrew text has “lie down” in both lines and is recommended by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project in that form to translators. The verb rendered “lie down” means to lie down to rest or to sleep. Some translators distinguish between the nature of “lie down” in the two clauses. For example, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “When you take your rest” and “when you go to bed.” Bible en français courant has “In the evening you will lie down without fear and at night your sleep will be peaceful.” “Afraid” refers to any kind of fright, threat, dread, or terror.

“Sleep will be sweet”: “Sweet” is used in the sense of pleasant, peaceful, sound. The same expression is used in Jer 31.26. We may also say, for example, “You will sleep peacefully” or “You will have a pleasant night’s sleep.”

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 .

complete verse (Proverbs 3:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 3:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “When you are sleeping, you will not be afraid, and you will lie down/fall asleep softly/peacefully!” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You will be able to lie down in bed without fear,
    and sleep the whole night through [without interruption].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (sing.) will-sleep deeply, that no one to be-afraid-of.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “You (sing.) will be able to rest and to sleep properly with nothing that you-(sing.)-will-be-afraid-of.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:24

3:24

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

24a
When you lie down, you will not be afraid ;

24b
when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

3:24a

When you lie down, you will not be afraid: There is a textual difference in the first clause:

(1) The Hebrew text has “lie down.” For example:

When you lie down you will be unafraid (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) The LXX has “sit down.” For example:

When you sit, you need have no fear (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1).

3:24b

when you rest, your sleep will be sweet: The Hebrew phrase meaning “you will lie down” is repeated here. If it is unnatural or redundant to use “lie down” in both lines, you may use a synonym, such as “go to bed,” or a more general term like rest, as in the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

You will not be afraid when you go to bed (Good News Translation)
-or-
you will rest without a worry (Contemporary English Version)

The clause your sleep will be sweet refers to peaceful, undisturbed sleep, free from worry. In some languages, “sleep” and “sweet” are not used together. Some other ways to translate this clause in English are:

you will sleep soundly (Good News Translation)
-or-
your sleep will be pleasant (Revised English Bible)

Use a natural expression in your language to translate this clause.

General Comment on 3:24a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. For example:

you will rest without a worry and sleep soundly (Contemporary English Version)

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