complete verse (Proverbs 3:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 3:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “If you are the one in authority/rulership in any day, do not deny people who deserve to receive/get that thing.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “As much as you are able,
    help those who need your help.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Help-out the ones-who- should -need-help if only you (sing.) are able.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Show-mercy/kindness those-who-need-it, especially if you (sing.) have wherewithal-to-help.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 3:27

The theme in this verse is found also in 11.24, 26; 14.21, 31; 17.17; 21.26; and 27.10.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due”: “Withhold” or “hold back” means to refuse to do the good and right thing for someone. Stated positively we may say, for example, “Do whatever is good” or “Do good to.” “From those to whom it is due” is literally “from its owners” or “to whom it belongs.” See 11.24. The sense seems to be “to the person who needs it.” Therefore a possible rendering is “Do not refuse to do good to anyone who is in need” or “Do not hesitate to do good to. . ..”

“When it is in your power to do it”: In some languages it will be more natural to begin the verse with this clause, for example, “Whenever it is in your power to. . .,” “If someone needs something and asks you for it. . .,” or “If you have the chance to help someone. . ..” For the whole verse we may say: “Whenever you are able to do so, do good to the person who is in need.”

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “Whenever anyone needs help and you can help them, then never hesitate to do so.”

Bible en français courant offers another model: “Any time it is possible for you [to do good] do not hesitate to do good for those in need.”

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 3:27

Paragraph 3:27–35

3:27

In this verse, the second line completes the thought of the first line. It specifies the circumstance in which a person should not withhold good.

27a Do not withhold good from the deserving

27b when it is within your power to act.

3:27a

Do not withhold good from the deserving: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the deserving is more literally “its owners.” This phrase refers here to people who have a right to receive something good from another person. In this context, the word good probably refers to a loan payment or a purchase or wages that another person is entitled to receive. Other ways to translate this advice are:

Refuse no kindness to those who have a right to it (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Do not hold back anything good from those who are entitled to it (God’s Word)

In some languages, it may be more natural to state this advice positively. For example:

Do all you can for everyone who deserves your help. (Contemporary English Version)

3:27b

when it is within your power to act: This clause means “when you are able to do it.” Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Whenever you are able (New Century Version)
-or-
Whenever you possibly can (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 3:27a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in this verse. For example:

Whenever you are able, give to people the good that you owe them.

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