Many people profess their loyalty, ¹  but a faithful person ²  – who can find? ³ 

biblegateway Pro 20:6

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?

Many people declare themselves loyal, but who can find someone who is really trustworthy?

biblegateway Pro 20:6

Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

bibleoremus Pro 20:6

Many proclaim themselves loyal, but who can find one worthy of trust?

Many assert their loyalty, but where will you find one to keep faith?

biblegateway Pro 20:6

Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

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

biblegateway Pro 20:6

Many people profess their loyalty, ¹  but a faithful person ²  – who can find? ³ 

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.