PROV 6:2 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:1–19: Here are several practical admonitions and warnings

This section contains practical warnings about four specific and unrelated areas of behavior. The first warning is about the danger of cosigning a loan for another person (6:1–5). The second paragraph speaks highly of the diligence of the ant and warns against laziness (6:6–11). The third paragraph briefly describes the behavior of a worthless scoundrel (6:12–15). The last paragraph is in the form of a numerical proverb and lists seven sins that the LORD hates (6:16–19).

Some other headings for this section are:

More Warnings (GNT)

Dangers of Being Foolish (NCV)

Warnings Against Folly (NIV)

Paragraph 6:1–5

In the first two verses of this paragraph, the father describes a possible circumstance or situation that his son may face. The last three verses advise the son what he should do if he is in that situation.

6:2

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

^2aif 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

(combined/reordered)

You^(sing) are as if caught in a trap because of what you promised.

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 BSB has done, to avoid redundancy without losing emphasis. For example:

^2aby your own words

^2bby your own promises (GNT)

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.

General Comment on 6:1–2

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

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

¹My child, have you promised to be responsible for someone else’s debts? ²Have 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.

¹My 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. ²Because 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.

6:2a

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

Have your^(sing) words trapped you?
You have caused trouble for yourself with your words,

6:2b

ensnared by the words of your mouth,

Are you^(sing) unable to escape from the debt that will result from what you promised?
and now it will be hard for you to avoid a bad result.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

נוֹקַ֥שְׁתָּ בְ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִ֑י⁠ךָ נִ֝לְכַּ֗דְתָּ בְּ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִֽי⁠ךָ

snared by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your caught by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second clause emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the clauses with a word that shows that the second clause is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “you are ensnared by the sayings of your mouth, yes, you are caught by the sayings of your mouth”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

נוֹקַ֥שְׁתָּ בְ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִ֑י⁠ךָ נִ֝לְכַּ֗דְתָּ בְּ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִֽי⁠ךָ

snared by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your caught by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your

In both of these clauses, Solomon is leaving out a word that in many languages a clause would need in order to be complete. You could supply the word from the first clause of the previous verse if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “if you are ensnared by the sayings of your mouth, if you are caught by the sayings of your mouth”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

נוֹקַ֥שְׁתָּ בְ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִ֑י⁠ךָ נִ֝לְכַּ֗דְתָּ בְּ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִֽי⁠ךָ

snared by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your caught by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your

If your language does not use these passive forms, you could express the ideas in active forms or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the sayings of your mouth have ensnared you, the sayings of your mouth have caught you”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נוֹקַ֥שְׁתָּ בְ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִ֑י⁠ךָ נִ֝לְכַּ֗דְתָּ בְּ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִֽי⁠ךָ

snared by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your caught by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your

In these clauses, Solomon refers to someone getting into trouble because of what he said as if his sayings were a trap that could ensnare or catch him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “if you get into trouble by the sayings of your mouth, if you encounter difficulty by the sayings of your mouth”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִ֑י⁠ךָ & בְּ⁠אִמְרֵי־פִֽי⁠ךָ

by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your & by,the_words_of your_mouth_of,your

Here, mouth represents the words of a promise that the person said with his mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “by your sayings … by your sayings”

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 6:2

Hebrew word order

Section 6:1–19: Here are several practical admonitions and warnings

Paragraph 6:1–5

6:2

6:2a–b

General Comment on 6:2a–b

General Comment on 6:1–2

6:2a

6:2b

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