Translation commentary on Proverbs 6:2

“If you are snared in the utterance of your lips”: There are two ways to understand verse 2:

(1) as another “if” clause, or
(2) as a consequence clause following from the conditions in verse 1.

Translators are divided on this issue. Good News Translation, which uses a question continued from verse 1, follows the first option, but Contemporary English Version the second one with “Then you are trapped by your own words.” New Revised Standard Version has changed the Revised Standard Version “if” clause to a consequence. If it is the thought of the writer that not every one will default on their debts, then the “if” clause is appropriate in verse 2. However, there is no apparent way to settle that question and so either solution may be followed.

“Snared” renders a verb that refers to catching or trapping something in a baited trap. In this case the promise to repay the debt is the trap. The language is figurative, but it may be necessary to use nonfigurative language in translation; for example, “if you are in trouble because. . ..” “Utterance of your lips” is literally “words of your mouth.” See the Revised Standard Version footnote. Revised Standard Version and others have followed the Septuagint here because the next line in Hebrew is again “words of your mouth.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates “words of your mouth” as “B” and recommends it as “the words of your mouth” or “the promise of your mouth” in both lines.

“Caught in the words of your mouth”: This line repeats the first. “Caught” is parallel to “snared” and renders a word meaning to capture or seize that is also used of catching something in a trap.

Translators who keep the parallel lines may follow various models. For example, Moffatt says, “If you have snared yourself with your own words, and trapped yourself by promises.” Good News Translation keeps the parallelism, using “Caught by . . . words, trapped by . . . promises.” Contemporary English Version, on the other hand, reduces the parallelism by saying, “Then you are trapped by your own words.”

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 6:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 6:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “you should know that your words tie you yourself.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “if you have been caught in a trap
    by what you did with your mouth,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “you (sing.) were-trapped by your (sing.) promise,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Is it as-if you (sing.) have-been-caught in a trap/snare because of your (sing.)-promise?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 6:2

6:2

This verse contains parallel metaphors. These metaphors further describe the situation that the son may face.

2a if you have been trapped by the words of your lips,

2b
ensnared by the words of your mouth,

There is an ellipsis in 6:2b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 6:2a. For example:

2b
⌊if you have been⌋ ensnared by the words of your mouth

6:2a–b

if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth: In these metaphors, the son, who has promised to pay the debt, is compared to a bird that has been caught in a trap or snare. Like a bird that cannot escape from a trap, he will not be able to escape from his financial obligations unless he can be released from his promise.

by the words of your lips…by the words of your mouth: These two phrases are identical in Hebrew. Both phrases are literally “by the words of your mouth.” Most English versions use a slightly different expression in each line, as the Berean Standard Bible has done, to avoid redundancy without losing emphasis. For example:

2a by your own words

2b by your own promises (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 6:2a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine the parallel metaphors in this verse into one metaphor. For example:

If you are trapped by your own words

In some languages, it may not be possible to use metaphors. Here are some other ways to translate these metaphors. In each of these options, the parallel lines have been combined and/or reordered.

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

if it’s like you have been trapped by your words

• Make the point of similarity explicit. For example:

if you are now ⌊like a bird that has been⌋ caught in a snare because ⌊you cannot escape from the debt that will result from⌋ your promise

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. This option should only be used as a last resort. For example:

if you cannot escape from the debt that will result from your promise

General Comment on 6:1–2

In some languages, it may not be natural to have several parallel “if” clauses preceding the conclusion in 6:3. The Good News Translation has changed the “if” clauses to questions. Notice that the Good News Translation has also combined and/or reordered the parallel lines in 6:1.

1 My child, have you promised to be responsible for someone else’s debts? 2 Have you been caught by your own words, trapped by your own promises?

Another option is to translate the “if” clauses as statements that express a hypothetical situation. In the example below, the parallel parts of 6:2 have been combined and/or reordered.

1 My child, let us suppose that you have promised to be the guarantor for another person’s debts. You have concluded the agreement with a handshake. 2 Because of this promise that you have made, you are now trapped ⌊in a binding financial agreement⌋ .

Use an option that is appropriate in your language.

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.