Paragraph 16:3–4

16:3a

In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that many versions translate as “and.” It probably introduces an action that occurred after some time had passed, after the manager had been able to think about his situation. For that reason, versions such as the NET Bible and New Revised Standard Version translate it as “Then.” The Berean Standard Bible and several other versions do not translate this conjunction. Introduce this verse in a way that is natural in your language.

The manager said to himself: The phrase The manager said to himself introduces something that the manager thought. It represents a conversation that he carried on with himself in his own mind. A similar idea occurs in 15:17.

16:3b

What shall I do…?: This is probably a rhetorical question. The manager was thinking to himself. He was expressing uncertainty about what he could do now that he no longer had his job. He was wondering how to get money to buy the food and other things that he needed. Some ways to translate this question are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

What should I do? (God’s Word)

• As a statement. For example:

I wonder what I should do now.
-or-
I am uncertain what to do now. ⌊I need to find another way to support myself.⌋

Translate the manager’s uncertainty in a way that is natural in your language.

16:3c

now that my master is taking away my position: In Greek and in the Berean Standard Bible, the verb is taking away is in the present tense. It indicates that the action was still happening. The rich man had told him that he could not continue to be his manager. However, the manager’s work would not actually be finished until he had turned in the financial accounts. Consider what verb tense you would use to express this situation in your language.

In some languages a position is not something that can be “taken away” from someone. Use an expression that is natural in your language. Another way to translate it in English is:

My master is not going to employ me any longer.

my master: The words my master refer here to the manager’s employer. The manager was a hired servant rather than a slave. Use an expression that is natural for a hired man to use to refer to his employer.

General Comment on 16:3b–c

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of 16:3b and 16:3c. For example:

16cMy master is taking away my job. 16bWhat shall I do now?

16:3d

I am too weak to dig: The expression I am too weak to dig may refer to work such as digging ditches or digging in the fields with a shovel or hoe. It was also used to refer to any kind of hard physical labor. In this context it also implies that it was a type of work that people were paid to do.

If the literal expression does not have the right meaning in your language, here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Make explicit a specific kind of digging that is known to be hard. For example:

I don’t have the strength to dig ditches (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I am not strong enough to use a shovel/hoe

• Use an expression that refers more generally to hard physical labor. For example:

I am too weak to work in the fields
-or-
I am not able to do manual labor

16:3e

and too ashamed to beg: This clause indicates that the manager would feel shame or embarrassment if he needed to become a beggar and ask people for money. Another way to express this idea is:

I am too proud to become a beggar

General Comment on 16:3d–e

The two clauses in 16:3d and 16:3e give two options that the manager considered in order to support himself. In some languages it may be good style to express these two alternatives by using a question or by changing the order of the phrases within each verse part. For example:

Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
As for digging ditches, I am not strong enough, and as for begging, it would be shameful.

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