PROV 20:6 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

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 Μέγα ἄνθρωπος, καὶ τίμιον ἀνὴρ ἐλεήμων, ἄνδρα δὲ πιστὸν ἔργον εὑρεῖν.
(Mega anthrōpos, kai timion anaʸr eleaʸmōn, andra de piston ergon heurein. )

BrTr A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but it is hard to find a faithful man.

ULT Many a man proclaims, each man, his covenant faithfulness,
⇔ but a man of faithful acts, who can find?

UST Many people claim that they are faithful individuals,
⇔ but very few people actually act faithfully!

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
⇔ but who can find a faithful man?

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Many people profess their loyalty,
⇔ but a faithful person – who can find?

LSV A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness,
And a man of steadfastness who finds?

FBV Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?

T4T ⇔ Many people proclaim that they can be trusted to do what they say that they will do,
⇔ but it is very difficult to find [RHQ] someone who can really be trusted.

LEB • Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself, but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?

BBE Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?

Moff Many a person is called kind,
⇔ but a trustworthy man is a rare find.

JPS Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?

ASV Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness;
⇔ But a faithful man who can find?

DRA Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?

YLT A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?

Drby Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?

RV Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?
(Most men wilt/will proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find? )

SLT The multitude of man will call each his mercy: and a man of faithfulness who shall find?

Wbstr Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

KJB-1769 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?[fn]

20.6 goodness: or, bounty

KJB-1611 [fn]Most men will proclaime euery one his owne goodnes: but a faithfull man who can finde?
(Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can finde?)

20:6 Or, bountie.

Bshps Many there be that woulde be called good doers: but where shall one finde a faythfull man?
(Many there be that would be called good doers: but where shall one find a faithful man?)

Gnva Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
(Many men will boast, every one of his own goodness: but who can find a faithful man? )

Cvdl Many there be that are called good doers, but where shal one fynde a true faithful ma?
(Many there be that are called good doers, but where shall one find a true faithful ma?)

Wycl Many men ben clepid merciful; but who schal fynde a feithful man?
(Many men been called merciful; but who shall find a faithful man?)

Luth Viele Menschen werden fromm gerühmet; aber wer will finden einen, der rechtschaffen fromm sei?
(Many people become pious/devout praised; but who will find a, the/of_the righteous pious/devout be?)

ClVg Multi homines misericordes vocantur; virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?]
(Multi people/men miserablecordes are_called; husband however faithful who/any will_find?] )

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

20:6

In this proverb, the two lines contrast, but the underlined parallel parts are similar in meaning. They do not contrast.

^6aMany a man proclaims his loving devotion,

^6bbut who can find a trustworthy man?

This proverb contrasts what people claim to be and what they are actually like. Many people claim to be loyal to others. But it is very difficult to find someone who is truly loyal.

20:6a

Many a man proclaims his loving devotion,

There are many who claim that they are loyal and loving friends,
Many people say, “You^(sing/plur) can trust me to be consistently kind to others.”

Many a man proclaims his loving devotion: The phrase Many a man refers to people in general. Most people describe themselves as loyal to their friends and family. They say that they can be trusted to show love and kindness to others. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Many describe themselves as people of faithful love (NJB)

Many will say they are loyal friends (NLT)

loving devotion: The word that the BSB translates here as loving devotion has three aspects of meaning: loyalty, love, and kindness. The BSB and NJB both express two aspects of meaning. In some languages, it may be more natural to express only one aspect of meaning. If that is true in your language, you should focus on loyalty because of the parallel with “faithful” in 20:6b. See the note on “love” in 3:3a.

20:6a–b

(combined/reordered)

Many people say that they can be trusted to show love and kindness to others, but almost no one can be found whose behavior is truly like that.

20:6b

but who can find a trustworthy man?

but who can find a person who is truly reliable?
But it is very difficult to find a person who is always trustworthy.

but who can find a trustworthy man?: This is a rhetorical question that contains hyperbole. The implied answer is that no one can find a faithful man.

The function of this rhetorical question is to emphasize the contrast with 20:6a. Although many people claim to be loyal, few if any are truly trustworthy and reliable. It is difficult to find even one person who is truly loyal.

Some ways to express this emphatic contrast are:

General Comment on 20:6a–b

As a rhetorical question. For example:
but who can find one who is truly reliable? (NLT)
As a statement. For example:
but it is hard to find a trustworthy person (NCV)

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. For example:

There are many who say, “You can trust me!” But can they be trusted? (CEV)

Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is! (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

אָדָ֗ם & אִ֣ישׁ חַסְדּ֑⁠וֹ וְ⁠אִ֥ישׁ

humankind & (a)_man loyalty_of,his and,a_person_of

Although man and his are masculine, Solomon is using these words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “a person … each person, that person’s covenant faithfulness, but a person of”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חַסְדּ֑⁠וֹ

loyalty_of,his

See how you translated the abstract noun covenant faithfulness in [3:3](../03/03.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

וְ⁠אִ֥ישׁ אֱ֝מוּנִ֗ים מִ֣י יִמְצָֽא

and,a_person_of trustworthy who? find

Solomon is using the question form to emphasize how few people act faithfully. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “but it is very difficult to find a man of faithful acts!”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וְ⁠אִ֥ישׁ אֱ֝מוּנִ֗ים

and,a_person_of trustworthy