This verse is a consequence of verse 7 and states that the content of line 2 of that verse leads to physical healing or soundness of body.

“It will be healing to your flesh”: “It” points back to verse 7. Since this line introduces a consequence, it may be appropriate to say, for example, “Then. . .,” “In that way. . .,” or “If you do that. . ..” The Hebrew of this line is literally “Healing shall be to your navel.” “Healing” is probably to be understood as “health.” There is similarity of form in Hebrew between the word “navel” and the word that the Revised Standard Version, like the Septuagint, has translated as “flesh”. Some versions say “body” instead of “flesh”.

“And refreshment to your bones”: It is necessary to look at this second line before suggesting how best to translate the whole verse. The line is literally “and drink [as in Psa 102.9] for your bones.” The Revised Standard Version note is “or medicine.” Just as “navel” is used figuratively in the first line, so is “bones” in the second line. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, for example, renders the whole verse as follows: “That is a medicine that will keep you in good health and keep your body refreshed.” Note that Good News Translation speaks of “healing your wounds and easing your pains.”

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 .