PROV 16:26 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) The workers’ appetites work on their behalf,
⇔ → because their hunger presses them on.
⇔ 
⇔ …

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ἀνὴρ ἐν πόνοις πονεῖ ἑαυτῷ, καὶ ἐκβιάζεται τὴν ἀπώλειαν ἑαυτοῦ. Ὁ μέντοι σκολιὸς ἐπὶ τῷ ἑαυτοῦ στόματι φορεῖ τὴν ἀπώλειαν·
(Anaʸr en ponois ponei heautōi, kai ekbiazetai taʸn apōleian heautou. Ho mentoi skolios epi tōi heautou stomati forei taʸn apōleian; )

BrTr A man who labours, labours for himself, and drives from him his own ruin.

ULT The appetite of the laborer labors for him,
⇔ for his mouth presses on him.

UST Being hungry helps working people work
⇔ because wanting to eat motivates people to keep on working.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE The appetite of the labouring man labours for him,
⇔ for his mouth urges him on.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET A laborer’s appetite works on his behalf,
⇔ for his hunger urges him to work.

LSV A laboring man has labored for himself,
For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.

FBV A good appetite helps workers—hunger encourages them.

T4T ⇔ If a worker ◄has an appetite/is hungry►, that urges him to work hard
⇔ because he [SYN] wants to earn money to buy things to eat.

LEB • The life[fn] of a worker works for him, for his hunger[fn] urges him.

16:? Or “soul,” or “inner self”

16:? Literally “mouth”

BBE The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.

Moff A labourer’s appetite labours for him;
⇔ his hunger drives him to work.
¶ 

JPS The hunger of the labouring man laboureth for him; for his mouth compelleth him.

ASV The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him;
⇔ For his mouth urgeth him thereto.

DRA The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.

YLT A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.

Drby The appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on.

RV The appetite of the labouring man laboureth for him; for his mouth craveth it of him.

SLT The soul of him laboring, labored for himself; for his mouth urged upon him.

Wbstr He that laboreth laboreth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

KJB-1769 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.[fn][fn]

16.26 He…: Heb. The soul of him that

16.26 craveth…: Heb. boweth unto him

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]Hee that laboureth, laboureth for himselfe; for his mouth craueth it of him.
(He that laboureth, laboureth for himself; for his mouth craueth it of him.)

16:26 Heb. the soule of him that laboureth.

16:26 Heb. boweth vnto him.

Bshps A troublous soule disquieteth her selfe, for her owne mouth hath brought her therto.
(A troubled soul disquieteth herself, for her own mouth hath/has brought her thereto.)

Gnva The person that traueileth, traueileth for himselfe: for his mouth craueth it of him.
(The person that travaileth/travails, travaileth/travails for himself: for his mouth craueth it of him. )

Cvdl A troublous soule disquyeteth hir selfe, for hir owne mouth hath brought her therto.
(A troubled soul disquyeteth herself, for her own mouth hath/has brought her thereto.)

Wycl The soule of a man trauelinge trauelith to hym silf; for his mouth compellide hym.
(The soul of a man travailing travelith to himself; for his mouth compellide him.)

Luth Mancher kommt zu großem Unglück durch sein eigen Maul.
(Mancher comes to/for large accident/misfortune/disaster through be own mouth.)

ClVg Anima laborantis laborat sibi, quia compulit eum os suum.[fn]
(Soul they_work_hardis works to_himself, because compulit him mouth his_own. )

16.26 Anima laborantis laborat sibi, etc. Constat ad litteram, etc., usque ad quia necesse habet facere bona, quæ dicit.

16.26 Soul they_work_hardis works to_himself, etc. Constat to literally, etc., until to because necessary has to_do good(s), which he_says.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

16:26

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^26a A worker’s appetite works for him

^26bbecause his hunger drives him onward.

The second line explains more specifically how a laborer’s appetite works for him. It makes him willing to work harder.

16:26a–b

(combined/reordered)

A person will force himself to work hard because of his desire to eat.

A worker’s appetite…his hunger: The Hebrew words that the BSB translates as appetite and hunger are literally “soul” and “mouth.” They both refer here to a person’s desire/need for food.

works for him…drives him onward: This physical need works for him, that is, it serves a positive purpose. His hunger will make him willing to work harder in order to obtain food. The verb that the BSB translates as drives him onward occurs only here in the OT. Another way to translate it is:

urges him on (NJB)

Some other ways to express the meaning of this verse are:

A laborer’s appetite makes him work harder, because he wants to satisfy his hunger. (GNT)

The workers’ hunger helps them, because their desire to eat makes them work. (NCV)

General Comment on 16:26a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See 16:26a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

16:26a

A worker’s appetite works for him

People who work get hungry, and their need for food serves a purpose,
A person’s desire for food helps him to work hard

16:26b

because his hunger drives him onward.

because their hunger causes/pushes them to work industriously.
in order to get food to satisfy his hunger.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

נֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֭מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑⁠וֹ כִּֽי־אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣י⁠ו פִּֽי⁠הוּ

creature worker's works for=him/it that/for/because/then/when urges_~_on on/upon/above=him/it mouth_of,his

The appetite, the laborer, him, and his here refer to appetites and laborers in general, not to any particular appetite or laborer. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “The appetites of laborers labor for them, for their mouths press on them”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

נֶ֣פֶשׁ

creature

See how you translated the abstract noun appetite in [6:30](../06/30.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑⁠וֹ

works for=him/it

Here Solomon speaks of The appetite of the laborer benefitting the laborer as if The appetite were a person who labors on his behalf. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “benefits him” or “is like a person who helps him while he is working”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

פִּֽי⁠הוּ

mouth_of,his

Here, mouth refers to the desire to eat, which involves using one’s mouth. It has the same meaning as appetite in the previous clause. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “his hunger” or “his desire to eat”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣י⁠ו פִּֽי⁠הוּ

urges_~_on on/upon/above=him/it mouth_of,his