| NETBible | Many people profess their loyalty, 1 but a faithful person 2 – who can find? 3 |
| NIV © |
Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? |
| NASB © |
Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man? |
| NLT © |
Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful? |
| MSG © |
Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one? |
| BBE © |
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen? |
| NRSV © |
Many proclaim themselves loyal, but who can find one worthy of trust? |
| NKJV © |
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? |
| KJV | Most <07230> men <0120> will proclaim <07121> (8799) every one <0376> his own goodness <02617>_: but a faithful <0529> man <0376> who can find <04672> (8799)_? {goodness: or, bounty} |
| NASB © |
Many <7230> a man <120> proclaims <7121> his own <376> loyalty <2617> , But who <4310> can find <4672> a trustworthy <529> man ?<376> |
| LXXM | mega <3173> A-ASN anyrwpov <444> N-NSM kai <2532> CONJ timion <5093> A-ASM anhr <435> N-NSM elehmwn <1655> A-NSM andra <435> N-ASM de <1161> PRT piston <4103> A-ASM ergon <2041> N-ASN eurein <2147> V-AAN |
| NET [draft] ITL | Many <07230> people <0120> profess <07121> their loyalty <02617> , but a faithful <0529> person <0376> – who <04310> can find ?<04672> |
| HEBREW | aumy <04672> ym <04310> Mynwma <0529> syaw <0376> wdox <02617> sya <0376> arqy <07121> Mda <0120> br (20:6) <07230> |
| NETBible | Many people profess their loyalty, 1 but a faithful person 2 – who can find? 3 |
| NET Notes |
1 tn Heb “many a man calls/proclaims a man of his loyal love.” The Syriac and Tg. Prov 20:6 render the verb as passive: “many are called kind.” Other suggestions include: “most men meet people who will do them occasional kindnesses” (RSV); “many men profess friendship” (C. H. Toy, Proverbs [ICC], 384); “many men invite only the one who has shown them kindness.” The simplest interpretation in this context is “many proclaim [themselves to be] a kind person (= a loyal friend).” The contrast is between many who claim to be loyal friends and the one who actually proves to be faithful. 2 tn The shift to the expression “a man of faithfulness[es]” in the second line indicates that of all those who claim to show faithful love, it is rare to find one who is truly reliable (as the word אֱמוּנִים [’emunim] indicates clearly); cf. NAB, NRSV “one worthy of trust.” 3 sn The point of the rhetorical question is that a truly faithful friend is very difficult to find. |