10:7

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

7a
The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

7b but the name of the wicked will rot.

10:7a

The memory of the righteous is a blessing: This line refers to the memory that other people have of the righteous. It indicates that people will be blessed or benefited or made happy when they remember the life of a righteous person. The parallel with 10:7b strongly implies that people will remember a righteous person, even long after that person has died. Another way to translate this line is:

We have happy memories of the godly (New Living Translation (2004))

10:7b

but the name of the wicked will rot: In this line, the name of the wicked is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents the reputation of the wicked. It is also part of a metaphor. The name/reputation of a wicked person is compared to something that decays/rots and disappears.

Here are some ways that they are similar:

(a) The main similarity is that something that decays will disappear and be gone. Similarly, people will forget a wicked person after he dies.

(b) Another similarity is that something that rots or decays is unpleasant or smelly. In the same way, the reputation of a wicked person is nasty and unpleasant.

In some languages, a literal translation of this complex figure of speech may be hard to understand. Some other ways to translate it are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

but the reputation of the wicked will rot (NET Bible)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

but the name of the wicked ⌊will be like something that⌋ rots ⌊and disappears⌋

• Change it to a simile and make explicit one or more points of similarity. For example:

but the ⌊disgusting⌋ reputation of the wicked ⌊will eventually be forgotten,⌋ ⌊like something that⌋ rots ⌊until it exists no more⌋

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

evil people will soon be forgotten (New Century Version)

Two advantages of using a figure of speech are:

(a) It may help readers to picture the meaning more vividly in their minds.

(b) Readers will better understand the points of similarity.

However, if a figure of speech is hard to understand, the last option may express the meaning more effectively. Translate in a way that is clear and natural in your language.

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