“Guarding the paths of justice”: “Guarding” or watching over continues the thought of protection in verse 7. “Paths” translates a different word than that used in 1.15. However, the sense is the same as in 1.15. See also “path of life” in Psa 16.11 and “paths of righteousness” in Psa 23.3. “Justice” renders the same word as in 1.3. The full poetic expression is equivalent to “He stands guard over the course of justice,” which must often be rendered in less formal language, as in Good News Translation, for example, or “He makes certain that people act fairly.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “He guards those who deal fairly with others.”

“Preserving the way of his saints”: “Preserving” translates a different verb than the one rendered “guarding” in the first line, but the two words have essentially the same meaning in these contexts. “The way” matches “the paths” in the first line and refers to the lives of his saints. “Saints” renders a noun meaning people who are faithful or loyal. The word is related to the noun usually translated as “steadfast love.” These people are called by this term because of their loyal or faithful relationship with God. In many languages the term “saints” or “holy people” as used in everyday speech often has meanings that are not biblical. Note that New Revised Standard Version has changed “saints” to “his faithful ones.” Good News Translation says “guards those who are devoted to him,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “and he himself [the Lord] watches over the faithful.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .