PROV 23:2 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=none 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 Καὶ ἐπίβαλλε τὴν χεῖρά σου, εἰδὼς ὅτι τοιαῦτά σε δεῖ παρασκευάσαι· εἰ δὲ ἀπληστότερος εἶ,
(Kai epiballe taʸn ⱪeira sou, eidōs hoti toiauta se dei paraskeuasai; ei de aplaʸstoteros ei, )

BrTr and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such meats: but if thou art very insatiable,

ULT and you should put a knife at your throat
⇔ if you are an owner of appetite.

UST Restrain yourself from eating too much
⇔ if you like eating a lot of food.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE put a knife to your throat
⇔ if you are a man given to appetite.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET and put a knife to your throat
⇔ if you possess a large appetite.

LSV And you have put a knife to your throat,
If you [are] a man of appetite.

FBV and cut down[fn] if you have a big appetite.

23:2 Literally, “put a knife to your throat.”

T4T Even if you ◄have a big appetite/want to eat a lot of food►,
⇔ restrain yourself.

LEB • and you shall put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite .[fn]

23:? Literally “lord/master of life”

BBE And put a knife to your throat, if you have a strong desire for food.

Moff control yourself,
⇔ if you have a large appetite.

JPS And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

ASV And put a knife to thy throat,
⇔ If thou be a man given to appetite.

DRA And put a knife to thy throat, if it be so that thou have thy soul in thy own power.

YLT And thou hast put a knife to thy throat, If thou [art] a man of appetite.

Drby and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

RV And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
(And put a knife to thy/your throat, if thou/you be a man given to appetite. )

SLT And put a knife to thy swallow if thou the possessor of a soul.

Wbstr And put a knife to thy throat, if thou art a man given to appetite.

KJB-1769 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
(And put a knife to thy/your throat, if thou/you be a man given to appetite. )

KJB-1611 And put a knife to thy throate, if thou be a man giuen to appetite.
(And put a knife to thy/your throate, if thou/you be a man given to appetite.)

Bshps Measure thyne appetite if it be gredyly set.
(Measure thine/your appetite if it be gredyly set.)

Gnva And put the knife to thy throte, if thou be a man giuen to the appetite.
(And put the knife to thy/your throat, if thou/you be a man given to the appetite. )

Cvdl that are set before ye Measure thine appetite:
(that are set before ye/you_all Measure thine/your appetite:)

Wycl and sette thou a withholding in thi throte. If netheles thou hast power on thi soule,
(and set thou/you a withholding in thy/your throat. If nevertheless thou/you hast power on thy/your soul,)

Luth und setze ein Messer an deine Kehle, willst du das Leben behalten.
(and set/put a Messer at/to your throat, want you(sg) the life keep.)

ClVg Et statue cultrum in gutture tuo: si tamen habes in potestate animam tuam.
(And statue cultrum in/into/on throat your: when/but_if nevertheless you_have in/into/on power the_soul your(sg). )

SOTN 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.

Paragraph 23:1–3 Saying 6

In this saying, the author continues to address his readers as a father who advises his son. He advises the young man to be careful in the way he conducts himself when he eats with an important person. It is implied that the host may have prepared the plentiful and tasty food in order to test the young man’s self-control.Longman (page 422–423), Murphy (page 174).

The first two verses do not contain parallel parts.

23:2

This verse gives a specific command to clarify the general advice given in 23:1b. Each line of the verse contains a figure of speech. The two lines will be combined in the Display.

^2aand put a knife to your throat

^2bif you possess a great appetite.

23:2a–b

and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.

Limit what you^(sing) eat if you normally have a big/hearty appetite.
If you are a person who likes/tends to eat a lot, control yourself and do not eat too much.

23:2a

and put a knife to your throat: The BSB and most English versions translate this Hebrew figure of speech quite literally.It could also be literally translated as “at/into your throat/gullet.” Cohen (page 152) identifies the figure of speech as an idiom. Hubbard (page 357) calls it a hyperbole. Fox (page 720) says it is a metaphor. All three scholars agree, along with others, that the figure of speech refers to the need for self-control, particularly the need to restrain the appetite. It probably means “control your appetite” or “limit what you eat.” Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

Control yourself (NCV)

Cut down your appetite (REB)

If your language has a figure of speech that expresses the right meaning, consider using it here.

23:2b

if you possess a great appetite: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “if you are a possessor of an appetite.” This figure of speech describes a person who normally has a big appetite or tends to eat a lot.Fox (page 720). The Hebrew phrase is baʿal nepeš. It does not refer to a person who is temporarily very hungry. Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

if you have a big appetite (NJB)

if you usually have a strong desire for food

General Comment on 23:2a–b

In some languages, it will be more natural to put the “if” clause first. For example:

If you have a big appetite, restrain yourself. (GNT)