Translation commentary on Proverbs 30:21

Verses 21-23 form the fourth numerical saying of this collection.

Titles given to this saying are “Four unbearable things” (Kidner) and “Four intolerable people” (Scott). All four items in this sequence refer to people who experience a change in their fortunes, and as a result behave in a way that others find very disagreeable.

“Under three things the earth trembles”: The tone of the opening formula is rather humorous, as it pictures “the earth” trembling or shaking at the behavior of the different types of people mentioned.

“Under four it cannot bear up”: “It” refers back to “the earth” in the previous line. The picture is extended in this line to show the earth not able to “bear”, that is, “support” or “endure” (New Jerusalem Bible) these people and their behavior.

In translation it is possible to combine the two lines of this verse; Good News Translation, for example, has “There are four things that the earth itself cannot tolerate.” In some languages the picture of the earth being affected by the behavior of people may be too difficult; if this is the case we may refer to people rather than the earth, since it is actually people who find the behavior unbearable. One translation that does this says: “There are some things that all people in the world don’t want at all. Four of these are. . ..”

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 30:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 30:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “There are four things which the earth/one can never tolerate. Those things are:” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “There are three things that make the earth tremble,
    No! There are four things that the earth cannot endure.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “There are three or four things which the people in the world cannot bear.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There-are four things that are-the-cause-of-trembling of people in this world, because they are not able-to-endure-it:” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)