OET interlinear PRO 30:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לַֽ⁠עֲלוּקָ֨ה ׀ שְׁתֵּ֥י בָנוֹת֮

(Some words not found in UHB: has,leech two(fd) daughters give give three they(f) not satisfied four not say enough )

Here, Agur speaks of a greedy person as if that person were a leech and as if what that person demands from others were Two daughters. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “Greedy people always say” or “Greedy people are like a leech with two daughters”

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

לַֽ⁠עֲלוּקָ֨ה

(Some words not found in UHB: has,leech two(fd) daughters give give three they(f) not satisfied four not say enough )

A leech is a type of worm that attaches itself to the skin of a person or animal in order to suck blood. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of animal, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “are for the blood-sucking animal” or “are for the parasite”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

הַ֤ב ׀ הַ֥ב

give give

This could refer to: (1) the names of the Two daughters. Alternate translation: “they are named Give and Give” (2) what the Two daughters say. Alternate translation: “they say, ‘Give! Give!’”

שָׁל֣וֹשׁ הֵ֭נָּה לֹ֣א תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע לֹא־אָ֥מְרוּ הֽוֹן

three they(f) not satisfied four not say enough

The second half of [30:15](../30/15.md) and all of [30:16](../30/16.md) are the second of six numerical sayings in this chapter. See the discussion of numerical sayings in the Chapter Introduction.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

שָׁל֣וֹשׁ הֵ֭נָּה לֹ֣א תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע לֹא־אָ֥מְרוּ הֽוֹן

three they(f) not satisfied four not say enough

To make a comprehensive statement, Agur is using a rhetorical device in which the speaker names a number that should be sufficient to illustrate his point and then increases that number by one for emphasis. Since the meaning of both clauses is the same, you could also combine them into one clause. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “These four things are absolutely never satisfied”

Note 5 topic: writing-poetry

לֹ֣א תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה

not satisfied

Parallelism is common in Hebrew poetry. You may want to begin a new line at the start of each parallel statement. If not, use a form in your language that is natural for expressing poetry. Alternate translation: “never have enough for themselves”