Translation commentary on Proverbs 23:2

“And put a knife to your throat”: This is a literal rendering of the Hebrew, which may not make any sense to readers. Some commentators take it as an idiom meaning “restrain yourself” (Good News Translation); Revised English Bible says “Cut down your appetite.”

“If you are a man given to appetite”: This explanation qualifies the advice given in the previous line. New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible express this more naturally in English with “if you have a big appetite.” Revised English Bible says “if you are a greedy person.”

In many languages it is more natural to reverse the order of the two lines of this verse so that the conditional clause is first; for example, “If you are a person who likes to eat a lot, control yourself and don’t be 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 23:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 23:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “Endure and do not be greedy.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you are a great glutton,
    control yourself well.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) are fond-of-eating/glutton, hold yourself.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If you (sing.) are-a-habitual-craver (for food), restrain-it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 23:2

23:2

This verse gives a specific command to clarify the general advice given in 23:1b. Each line of the verse contains a figure of speech. The two lines will be combined in the Display.

2a and put a knife to your throat

2b if you possess a great appetite.

23:2a

and put a knife to your throat: The Berean Standard Bible and most English versions translate this Hebrew figure of speech quite literally. It probably means “control your appetite” or “limit what you eat.” Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

Control yourself (New Century Version)
-or-
Cut down your appetite (Revised English Bible)

If your language has a figure of speech that expresses the right meaning, consider using it here.

23:2b

if you possess a great appetite: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “if you are a possessor of an appetite.” This figure of speech describes a person who normally has a big appetite or tends to eat a lot. It does not refer to a person who is temporarily very hungry. Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

if you have a big appetite (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
if you usually have a strong desire for food

General Comment on 23:2a–b

In some languages, it will be more natural to put the “if” clause first. For example:

If you have a big appetite, restrain yourself. (Good News Translation)

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