Translation commentary on Proverbs 7:15

“So now I have come out to meet you”: “So” introduces this verse as the result of verse 14. “Come out” is spoken with reference to her house that she has left to come into the street. “To meet you” is as in verse 10.

“To seek you eagerly, and I have found you”: “Seek you eagerly” is literally “seek early your face,” which seems to mean to meet with you or to know you. See Good News Translation “I wanted to find you.” “Found you” should express in translation a finding that results from searching and not just as casual encounter.

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 7:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 7:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “So I have come to welcome you. I have looked and looked for you, and/so I have found you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So I have come out to look for you.
    Now I have met you here.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore I have-looked for you (sing.), and (it is) good that I saw you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So I-have-come to look-for you (sing.) and here you (sing.) truly are (particle of surprised-realization).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 7:15

7:15

So: This word introduces what the woman did as a result of fulfilling her vows and having meat available to eat (7:14).

I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you: This verse does not contain parallel lines. The woman said these words in order to flatter the young man and make him feel important. She implied that she came out of her house for a purpose. She specifically wanted to find him.

I sought you: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I sought you is literally “to seek your face.” This expression implies that the woman looked eagerly and diligently for the young man. For example:

to seek you eagerly (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I wanted to find you (Good News Translation)

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