Proverbs 27:7

The one whose appetite ¹  is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry mouth ²  every bitter thing is sweet.

He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.

Honey seems tasteless to a person who is full, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.

When you've stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert; when you're starved, you could eat a horse.

The full man has no use for honey, but to the man in need of food every bitter thing is sweet.

The sated appetite spurns honey, but to a ravenous appetite even the bitter is sweet.

A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

The one whose appetite ¹  is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry mouth ²  every bitter thing is sweet.

¹ tn Traditionally, “soul” (so KJV, ASV). The Hebrew text uses נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) here for the subject – the full appetite [“soul”]. The word refers to the whole person with all his appetites. Here its primary reference is to eating, but it has a wider application than that – possession, experience, education, and the like.

² tn Here the term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, traditionally, “soul”) is used again, now in contrast to describe the “hungry appetite” (cf. NRSV “ravenous appetite”), although “hungry mouth” might be more idiomatic for the idea. Those whose needs are great are more appreciative of things than those who are satisfied. The needy will be delighted even with bitter things.