12:17a

So: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Some English versions, such as the English Standard Version, translate it that way. The Berean Standard Bible (and the NET Bible) translate it as So in order to show that it introduces the result of what 12:16b described. It was because the rich man harvested such a good crop that he needed to decide what to do with it. Other versions, such as the New International Version and Good News Translation, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages it may be more natural to make this connection explicit. For example:

So/Then he thought to himself
-or-
Because of this, he thought to himself

he thought to himself: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he thought to himself means that the man reasoned or discussed in his own mind what he ought to do. Other ways to translate this idea are:

He thought (God’s Word)
-or-
He said in his own mind
-or-
He wondered
-or-
He asked himself

Notice that the man did not conclude his mental discussion until 12:18–19. Because of this, it may be natural in some languages to indicate in 12:17a that he “began to think.” For example:

He began to think to himself (Good News Translation)

Use an expression that is natural in your own language to describe a person thinking about what to do when he is not sure.

See the General Comment on 12:17–19 at the end of 12:19b for a way to translate 2:17–19 as indirect speech.

What shall I do: This is a rhetorical question that expresses uncertainty. The rich man was asking himself this question. He was not certain where he would put all the grain.

Some ways to translate this uncertainty are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

What should/can I do?

• As a statement. For example:

I wonder what I should do.

Translate this uncertainty in a way that is natural in your language.

12:17b

since I have nowhere to store my crops: This clause implies that the man did not have enough space to store the large harvest of grain or other crops that had grown that year. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

I have no ⌊more⌋ place to store my crops.

It is also clear from 12:18b that the man stored his crops in barns. If it is not natural in your language to use an expression such as nowhere to store, you may use a specific term such as “barns” or “granaries.” For example:

My barns/granaries are not enough to store/put all my crops.
-or-
My crops will not fit in my barns/granaries.

Use a term or expression that fits with the term that you use for “barns” in 12:18b.

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