Proverbs 6:30

People ¹  do not despise a thief when he steals to fulfill his need ²  when he is hungry.

Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry;

Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving.

Hunger is no excuse for a thief to steal;

Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it:

Thieves are not despised who steal only to satisfy their appetite when they are hungry.

People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.

People ¹  do not despise a thief when he steals to fulfill his need ²  when he is hungry.

¹ tn Heb “they do not despise.”

² tn Heb “himself” or “his life.” Since the word נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, traditionally “soul”) refers to the whole person, body and soul, and since it has a basic idea of the bundle of appetites that make up a person, the use here for satisfying his hunger is appropriate.