unmovable

In Gbaya, the notion of “unmovable” is emphasized with mitak, an ideophone used to describe the act of standing firmly, with support and energy.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

Translation commentary on Sirach 40:25

Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: Good News Translation “provide security” is a good equivalent for make the foot stand sure. Financial security is meant, of course.

But good counsel is esteemed more than both: Good advice is an even better guarantee of security than money.

Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for this verse:

• Gold and silver
may give security,
but they don’t compare
with good advice.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.