Proverbs 27:8

Like a bird that wanders ¹  from its nest, so is a person who wanders from his home. ² 

Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.

Like a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home.

A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest.

People who won't settle down, wandering hither and yon, are like restless birds, flitting to and fro.

Like a bird wandering from the place of her eggs is a man wandering from his station.

Like a bird that strays from its nest is one who strays from home.

Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.

Like a bird that wanders ¹  from its nest, so is a person who wanders from his home. ² 

¹ tn The form נוֹדֶדֶת (nodedet) is the Qal participle from נָדַד (nadad), “to wander; to stray; to flutter; to retreat; to depart”; cf. NIV, NRSV, NLT “strays.” It will be directly paralleled with the masculine participle in the second colon.

² tn Heb “place” (so KJV, ASV); most other English versions translate as “home.”

sn The reason for the wandering from the nest/place is not given, but it could be because of exile, eviction, business, or irresponsible actions. The saying may be generally observing that those who wander lack the security of their home and cannot contribute to their community (e.g., the massive movement of refugees). It could be portraying the unhappy plight of the wanderer without condemning him over the reason for the flight.