Translation commentary on Proverbs 11:24

The intention of this saying seems to be general and affirms that generosity is a good investment. Verses 25-26, which have to do with money, make the use of wealth central here also.

“One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer”: “One man” translates a Hebrew particle that merely states that something exists or happens; for example, “there is [one who] . . ..” This does not mean that the example given is typical but rather that it sometimes happens. “Gives freely” renders a verb meaning to scatter or disperse and is used in Psa 112.9 of giving generously to the poor. “Gives freely” then is to be taken as “gives generously” or “being generous with money.” However, the book of Proverbs nowhere encourages extravagance or lavish expenditures. “Yet” expresses a surprise in view of what was said before. “Grows . . . richer” renders a verb form meaning “adds to” or “increases,” and the sense is “yet the person generous in giving increases his wealth.”

“Another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want”: “Withholds” means “keeps back” or “does not spend.” “What he should give” is literally “what is due or proper.” “Only suffers want” is literally “only to poverty.” This line expresses the contrary of line 1. The person who holds on to his money ends up being poor.

Bible en français courant has a good model translation for the whole verse: “Some give generously and increase their fortune. Some save more than necessary and become poor.”

Contemporary English Version says “Sometimes you can become rich by being generous or poor by being greedy.”

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 11:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 11:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “If a person uses what (he) has to help others,
    God supports/adds to (him) something else/more,
    And/But the one who is mean (a miser),
    becomes poor.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “One who gives with an open heart
    will get much more,
    another, who could give but doesn’t,
    will become a beggar.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “There are people who are generous but their wealth increases more; there are also those-who are greedy but [they] even become-poorer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There-is someone-who-is-eager to give, but he keeps-getting-richer nonetheless. There-is someone-who-is-stingy and he increasingly-worse keeps-getting-poorer.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Some people give their money generously to poor people, but they become richer in spite of that,
    and some people hold tightly to their money, but they still become poor in spite of that.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 11:24

11:24

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

24a
One gives freely, yet gains even more ;

24b
another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

This verse contrasts the unexpected financial results of being generous and stingy. The meaning of 11:24a is clarified or repeated in 11:25. The meaning of 11:24b is clarified in 11:26a.

11:24a–b

gives freely…withholds what is right: In this context, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as what is right refers to what is right or appropriate to give to people who are in need. Because of the parallel with 11:24b, the first line implies that a person gives generously ⌊what he ought to give to people who are in need⌋ .

11:24a

One gives freely, yet gains even more: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gives freely is literally “scatters.” Here it means “distributes widely, freely, or generously.” Scholars have interpreted this line in two ways:

(1) This line refers to people who give generously to others in need and yet become more prosperous as a result. For example:

It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy (New Living Translation (1996))

(2) This line refers to people who spend their money freely and yet become more prosperous as a result. For example:

One person spends freely and yet grows richer (God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars. This interpretation fits the theme of 11:25–26.

11:24b

another withholds what is right, only to become poor: Some other ways to translate this line are:

but those who are stingy will lose everything (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want (English Standard Version)
-or-
Others don’t give what they should and end up poor. (New Century Version)

General Comment on 11:24a–b

In Hebrew, this verse begins with a word that means “there is/exists.” Literally, it says: “There is/exists ⌊a person⌋ who scatters.” The same word is also implied in 11:24b: “and ⌊there is/exists a person⌋ who withholds…” In languages that use a word like this, the Hebrew may provide a natural way to translate this verse. For example:

24a There are people who give generously to others and their wealth still increases.

24b There are also those who fail to share appropriately with those in need, and they become poor.

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