“He who walks in integrity walks securely”: The Hebrew of this line has eight syllables with repeating vowels and consonants: holek batom yelek betach. “Walks” in the Old Testament refers to manner of living. For “walks in integrity” see 2.7. For “walks securely” see 3.23.

“But he who perverts his ways will be found out”: “Perverts his ways” is literally “makes his paths crooked,” that is, “behaves deceitfully.” “Found out” is literally “will be known.” This may refer to being found out by other people, but it may also refer to being found out by God, just as it is the Lord in 2.7 who provides protection for those who “walk in integrity”. Many modern versions, like Good News Translation, use passive constructions: “the dishonest will be caught.” In languages in which a passive cannot be used here, it may be necessary to say, for example, “but God will catch dishonest people” or “but people will find out those who are dishonest.”

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 .