“Toward the scorners he is scornful”: “Scorners” are people who ridicule or make fun of others. There is no indication in this context that the “scorners” are ridiculing God or religion; but since they are contrasted in the next line with “the humble”, it appears that they think of themselves as superior or greater than others. We may render this line, for example, “He mocks those who mock others” or “He makes fun of those who make fun of others.”

“But to the humble he shows favor”: “Humble” renders a word that is related to a verb meaning “bowed” or “bent” and may suggest someone who bows beneath a hostile force, such as a slave or a suffering, poor person. “Shows favor” is literally “gives grace,” which means he is kind, gracious, good. The Septuagint form of this verse, “The Lord resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble,” is quoted in James 4.6 and 1 Peter 5.5.

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 .