lazy person

The Hebrew that is translated as “lazy person” or “sluggard” or similar in English is translated in Low German as Fuulpelz, an idiomatic term that literally means “someone who wants to rest on an animal hide” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1937, republ. 2006).

See also lazy.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 6:9

In verse 9 the teacher again addresses the lazy person directly and somewhat satirically, as if mocking him.

“How long will you lie there, O sluggard?”: “How long” is a question that can be taken as expecting an answer about the length of time, or as a rhetorical question meaning something like “You must want to sleep forever!” or “Will you never get up?” When gathering crops at harvest time, workers must work long hours so as not to leave the grain too long in the fields. The “sluggard”, however, is seen here as sleeping. For “O sluggard” see verse 6.

“When will your arise from your sleep?”: This line may also be rhetorical. We may translate the two lines of this verse, for example, “Are you going to lie there and sleep all day? When are you ever going to get up?” or “You lazy people want to keep sleeping, don’t you? When will you ever get off your beds?” Some translators may find it more natural to switch the order of the two lines.

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 6:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 6:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “But you, lazy one, how long will you lie down? And when will you get up from sleep?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O lazy ones!
    How long will you lie in bed like that?
    When will you get up?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) who are lazy will- you (sing.) just -keep-on sleeping? When will- you (sing.) -wake-up?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “How-long- yet -will-be that (exp. of exasperation/reproof) sleep of yours (sing.)? When yet will be your(sing.)-getting-up?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 6:9

6:9

Notice the parallel rhetorical questions:

9a
How long will you lie there, O slacker?

9b
When will you get up from your sleep ?

6:9a–b

How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?: These rhetorical questions are used to rebuke the lazy person. The parallel repetition makes the rebuke more forceful. Other ways to translate these rhetorical questions are:

• Use a different rhetorical question that expresses rebuke in your language. For example:

9a Why are you always sleeping?

9b Why do you not get up?

• Use a statement. For example:

9a You shouldn’t just lie there sleeping.

9b You ought to get up.

• Use a command. For example:

9a Do not lie there in your bed.

9b Get up!

You may also use a different option in each parallel line or change the order of the parallel lines. Use an option that will express this rebuke effectively in your language.

O slacker: The person addressed in this verse is the same person or class of people as in 6:6a. You will need to decide whether to refer to the hearer in the same way as in that verse.

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