Translation commentary on Proverbs 6:35

“He will accept no compensation” is literally “He will not lift the face of every ransom.” “Lift the face” means to look at or to consider; that is, he will not pay any attention or he will not look at any payment that is offered him. “Compensation” is to be understood as payment offered to the offended husband to prevent revenge or a trial that could result in the death of the adulterer.

“Nor be appeased though you multiply gifts”: “Appeased” renders a verb meaning to agree, consent, or accept. New Revised Standard Version says “and [he] refuses a bribe no matter how great.” “Multiply gifts” means to give all kinds of bribes or to bribe over and over in order to prevent the husband from taking action. This verse may be translated, for example, “He will not accept a large sum of money to end his anger.”

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 6:35)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 6:35:

  • Kupsabiny: “That man will never accept to be compensated anything however big that thing is!” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “and it will not be possible to placate him
    by paying any fine or compensation.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He will- not -accept payment, even-though how big it is.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “His anger will-never-cool-off even though you (sing.) give how-much.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 6:35

6:35

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

35a
He will not be appeased by any ransom ;

35b
or persuaded by lavish gifts.

If a person has had an affair with the wife of another man, he may offer to pay compensation to that other man, but no matter how much the person offers, the husband will refuse it. It is implied that the husband will make sure that the offending man is severely punished.

6:35a–b

ransom…lavish gifts: Here the word ransom is a synonym for bribery. It refers to money that the adulterer offers to the husband, hoping to calm his anger, obtain his forgiveness, or persuade him to keep quiet about the crime. English versions make explicit various purposes for the money. For example:

Compensation will not buy his forgiveness (Revised English Bible)
-or-
no amount of gifts will satisfy his anger (Good News Translation)
-or-
No amount of money will change his mind. (God’s Word)

General Comment on 6:35a–b

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

There is no compensation or bribe that will satisfy him (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
He won’t let you pay him off, no matter what you offer (Contemporary English Version)

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