Whenever possible I like to have the text in the original language, and then three or four translations open for comparison. Sometimes there are only minute differences, though those differences can strongly impact how we read, understand and are emotionally influenced by the text.

There’s also times when the translation is so completely different that you’re left scratching your head wondering how in Haides that happened.

For instance, I needed to do some quick divination for a friend, so I turned to the Homeromanteion and after my questions on the who, what and why were answered, moved on to the action that should be taken. I got:

ἄνδρ’ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.
To protect you if someone is violent.
Homer, Iliad 24.369

Although I had a general sense of what to do from that, I thought a little context could be helpful and so googled the verse. One of the first pages that came up gave this as the translation:

ἄνδρ’ ἀπαμύνασθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.
Be wary of a man who gets angry before anything happens.
Homer, Iliad 24.369

And that, kiddies, is why you never rely on just one translation!

The context is Hermes counseling Priam as he guides the broken old king to the tent of Achilles, to beseech the great warrior for the return of his son’s body, upon which terrible vengeance has been inflicted for the death of Patroklos. Taken up to the conclusion of Achilles and Priam’s conversation it is one of the most powerful and shocking pericopes in all of Greek literature.

Edited to add: apparently it can also be translated, “A man is warded off if he becomes excessively embittered/violent.” Unsurprisingly I like that one the best.