Translation commentary on Proverbs 17:8

As Whybray observes, this saying states a fact of life without expressing approval or disapproval.

“A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of him who gives it”: “A bribe” is used by Revised Standard Version in 15.27, although the Hebrew term is different in that verse. See there for comments. “A magic stone” probably refers to a charm or amulet. “In the eyes of him who gives it” is literally “in the eyes of its owner.” Interpreters differ as to whether it is the person who gives the bribe or the person who receives it who is the owner of the “magic stone”. Good News Translation avoids that problem with “Some people think. . ..” and “they believe. . ..” New English Bible/Revised English Bible translate “magic stone” as “charm” and Revised English Bible says “A bribe works like a charm for him who offers it.”

“Wherever he turns he prospers”: If the translation assumes, as in Revised Standard Version, that the person referred to in the first line is the giver of the bribe, “he” in the second line should also refer to this person. “Turns” renders a verb meaning to undertake or engage in something; so “wherever he turns” has the sense of “whatever he does” or “everything he does.” “Prospers” renders a word that may also mean to be wise or prudent, but here the idea of being successful fits the context better. This line may be translated, for example, “and they succeed in whatever they do” or “and they have good fortune in everything.”

The whole saying is rendered in one language as follows: “The person who gives money to others, to get them to do what isn’t right, thinks that money is like a magic charm to help him do everything that he wants to do.” In another the rendering is: “Some people think they can do fantastic things through bribery. They think it can meet all their needs.”

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 17:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 17:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person may think that one can survive/do well through bribe,
    because he thinks if he gives it out in any way (they) he will prosper in his life.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “For the one who gives a bribe,
    it becomes like a magic charm.
    He thinks he will succeed wherever he goes.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Others believe that a bribe is like a magic that is be-able to do whatsoever/anything.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The bribe, amazing is what it is able-to-do for the one who gives-it. Whatever he does, good is its outcome.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “People think that a bribe is like a magic stone to persuade someone to do what they want him to do;
    they think that because of the bribe, that person will do whatever they want him to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 17:8

17:8

In this proverb, the second line further explains the first line.

8a A bribe is a charm to its giver;

8b wherever he turns, he succeeds.

The overall meaning is that a person who gives a bribe expects it to work like a magic charm and make him successful. The proverb does not express approval or disapproval concerning the giving of bribes. It simply states the facts about the attitude of the person who offers them.

17:8a

A bribe is a charm: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as charm is literally “stone of favor.” It means “stone that brings favor.” This line is a metaphor. The metaphor compares a bribe to a magic stone, amulet or good luck charm. The similarity is that both have magical or miraculous results.

to its giver: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “in the eyes of its owner.” In other words, in the opinion of the person who gives the bribe, it works like a charm.

If a literal translation of this metaphor is not clear in your language, some other ways to translate it are:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

A bribe seems to work like magic for those who give it (New Living Translation (1996))

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

Some people think they can pay others to do anything they ask. (New Century Version)

17:8b

wherever he turns, he succeeds: This line means that whenever the person offers a bribe, he is successful. The bribe accomplishes what he wants. It is probably implied from 17:8a that this is the opinion of the one who gives the bribes. A number of versions make this explicit. For example:

They think it will work every time. (New Century Version)

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