PROV 23:8 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 22:17–24:22: Here are thirty sayings of wise people

This section follows the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (10:1–22:16). It differs in significant ways from this preceding section:These differences were summarized from a number of commentaries, including UBS (page 472), Waltke (2004, page 22), and Hubbard (page 351).

The preceding section has mostly two-line proverbs that are one verse in length. This section has proverbs of a different form. They are sayings that range from one to seven verses. Most of the sayings are two or three verses in length. Each saying will be marked as a separate paragraph in the Notes.
Many of the proverbs in the preceding section express a general principle. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. Most of the sayings here contain direct commands. They advise the reader or listener either to follow wise behavior or avoid foolish behavior. Most of the sayings also give a reason or motive for following the command.
As in chapters 1–9, the author addresses his reader or listener as a father who advises his son. He uses second person commands and pronouns (you^(sing)). See the note on 23:15 for a list of verses where the words “my son” occur.

Some other headings for this section are:

Thirty Wise Sayings (CEV)

Words of the Wise (ESV)

Thirty Sayings of the Wise (NIV11)

Verse 22:20 mentions “thirty sayings,” but the Hebrew text itself does not number the sayings. Some versions that use the word “thirty” in the section heading also give a number as a separate heading for each saying. The GNT and CEV start numbering the sayings at 22:22. They have a total of thirty-one paragraphs. In these versions, the first paragraph (22:17–21) serves as an introduction to the thirty sayings (22:22–24:22).Scholars who identify 22:17–21 as the first saying include Hubbard (page 352), Fox (page 707), and Waltke (2004, page 22). Scholars who identify these verses as an introduction to the sayings that follow include Whybray (page 325) and Murphy (page 170). See also the NET footnote (b) on 22:16. Whether these introductory verses form the first saying or simply introduce the following sayings, all scholars agree that they function as an introduction to the whole section. Other versions, such as the NIV, NCV, and NLT, divide the paragraphs in the same way but do not have separate headings for each section. You may use either option in your translation.The NIV11 gives a number as a separate heading for each saying. But it counts the first paragraph as the first saying, and has a total of thirty paragraphs. Other versions have more or fewer paragraphs. For example, the ESV and NRSV have fifteen paragraphs. The NJB has thirty-four. Still other versions, such as the RSV, NET, and NJPS, do not group the verses into sayings or paragraphs.

For the convenience of those who decide to identify the number of each saying in their translation, the Notes will put the number in the paragraph headings, using the same numbering system as the GNT or CEV. These numbers will not be used in the Display.

23:8

The parallel lines in this verse give two more reasons for not eating with a stingy person. These reasons have to do with the unfortunate results that such an experience would have on the guest.

^8aYou will vomit up what little you have eaten

^8band waste your pleasant words.

23:8a

You will vomit up what little you have eaten

You^(sing) will vomit the small amount of food that you eat/ate,
If you eat even a little bit, you will feel completely nauseated.

You will vomit up what little you have eaten: This verse does not indicate when the guest will vomit. It may be during the meal or after the guest has left.

The verse also does not indicate what will cause the guest to vomit. It may be his reaction to the disgusting insincerity of his stingy host. It may also have some connection to the food.Fox, Cohen, and Hubbard prefer the view that the guest will vomit in disgust at the host’s hypocrisy. Murphy suggests disgust at his own hypocrisy. Waltke, Longman, and Toy think that the cause is the inedible nature of the food. NIDOTTE (H7794) says that it is from eating too greedily. The author of these Notes thinks that the first view is more likely due to the cultural obligations of an oriental host to show hospitality. Even a stingy host would probably not serve food that was of such poor quality that it would cause a guest to vomit. The view taken by NIDOTTE is also unlikely, because the phrase “your morsel” in 23:8a probably implies that the guest ate only a small amount of food. It is recommended that you not make the cause explicit.

English versions all translate this clause in a way that indicates literal vomiting. However, some scholars think that the “vomiting” may be a metaphor or hyperbole. In that case, it would indicate that the guest feels nauseated or disgusted enough to vomit.Hubbard (page 358) says that food “eaten under such emotional duress will make one sick, figuratively if not literally.” Fox (page 726) and Murphy (page 175) identify vomiting as a metaphor that indicates disgust. Cohen (page 153) says that “the food grows nauseating” due to the attitude of the host. The NET (footnote a) identifies this clause as a hyperbole that indicates irritation and disgust. Some ways to translate this clause are:

Keep the idea of literal vomiting. For example:
You will vomit the little bit you have eaten (GW)
Each bite will come back up (CEV)
Focus on the nausea or disgust that the guest feels. For example:
You will feel like you want to vomit the small amount of food that you swallow
You be completely nauseated by the few pieces/bites of food that you have eaten

what little: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “your morsel.” This phrase could have a general meaning, such as “whatever you have eaten” (NJB). But probably it refers here to a small amount of food.

23:8b

and waste your pleasant words.

and the good/kind words that you speak/spoke to him will be wasted/useless.
Anything that you said to thank/compliment him will also accomplish nothing.

and waste your pleasant words: This phrase is an additional reason for not eating with a stingy person. It is not a result of vomiting.According to Waltke (pages 227 and 243), the Masoretic accents indicate that the wasted words are “a second negative situation of having dined with the miser, not a subsequent one to vomiting.” It indicates that the kind words that the guest has spoken to thank his host or compliment him for the meal will accomplish nothing useful.

and all your kind words will be wasted (CEV)

and waste your pleasant words (ESV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

פִּֽתְּ⁠ךָ־אָכַ֥לְתָּ תְקִיאֶ֑⁠נָּה

[of_bread]_of,your_piece eaten you,will_vomit_it_up

This clause could mean: (1) the person feels like vomiting, in which case this clause is an exaggeration. Alternate translation: “You will feel like vomiting up what you ate” (2) the person actually vomits, as in the ULT.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

תְקִיאֶ֑⁠נָּה

you,will_vomit_it_up

The writer could imply that the person vomits or feels like vomiting because he is so disgusted at the attitude of the stingy person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “You will feel disgusted with him and vomit up”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

פִּֽתְּ⁠ךָ

[of_bread]_of,your_piece

Here, morsel most likely refers to a small amount of food. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “your bit of food” or “your small amount of food”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ֝⁠שִׁחַ֗תָּ

and,you_will_spoil

Here, the writer refers to speaking words in vain as if they were objects that one could ruin. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and you will uselessly speak”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

דְּבָרֶ֥י⁠ךָ הַ⁠נְּעִימִֽים

words_of,your (the),pleasant

See how you translated the similar use of words in [1:23](../01/23.md).

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 23:8

Hebrew word order

Section 22:17–24:22: Here are thirty sayings of wise people

23:8

23:8a

23:8b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)