In this verse wisdom is pictured as a generous person with gifts in her hands that she offers to those who come to her.

“Long life is in her right hand”: “Long life” is literally “length of days,” meaning many years of life. Wisdom is said to hold these in her right hand. The unstated sense is that she gives them as rewards to those who seek her. If a straightforward translation suggests that she merely holds these in her hand, it will be better to express the action of giving; for example, “Wisdom gives you. . .,” or “Wisdom offers you. . ..” See Good News Translation.

“In her left hand are riches and honor”: The use of “left hand” does not indicate a smaller or less significant gift, but rather the two hands suggest a full and complete gift. In languages in which the “left hand” will impose an unwanted interpretation, it will be better to combine the lines and say, for example, “In her hands she offers you long life, riches, and honor.” “Riches” renders the noun form of the verb meaning to become rich, to have an abundance of possessions. “Honor” in the Hebrew reflects the verb whose root meaning is to be heavy, weighty, or burdened. Its sense is similar to that of “riches”.

In some languages “honor” is expressed as people’s attitude toward the individual; for example, “They say he/she is great,” “Everyone looks up to him/her,” “They all bow before him/her,” or “They cover their mouths in his/her presence.” In this verse we may say, for example, “Wisdom also gives you riches and makes people respect you.”

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 .