“He who winks his eyes plans perverse things”: In 6.13 the wicked person is said to wink with his eyes. The verb translated “winks” occurs only here in the Old Testament, and its meaning is uncertain. However, most modern translations accept “wink”. The “wink” of the eye is a facial gesture that has different meanings in different cultures. As the Revised Standard Version footnote shows, “plans” is from the ancient versions and means here to scheme or plot. The Hebrew text has “to plan,” a form that is given an “A” rating by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends translating “He who winks his eyes is about to plan perverse things.” In other words the wink of the eye is a signal to someone that something bad is about to be done by the person who winks.

“He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass”: “Compresses” translates a word that is used in connection with the winking of the eyes in 6.13 and 10.10. Apparently the expression refers to another facial gesture involving the tightening of the lips to signal that nothing should be said. What is about to happen must not be disclosed. “Brings evil to pass” means “do something evil” or “cause misfortune or harm to someone.” Good News Translation assumes that there is a warning in the saying and therefore says “Watch out for people who grin and wink. . ..” Contemporary English Version says “When someone winks or grins behind your back, trouble is on the way.” Note that “grin” in Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version is a possible European cultural equivalent for “compresses his lips”, but this should not be taken as a basis for translation in other languages. Translators should seek an appropriate gesture in their own culture, preferably one that involves the mouth.

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 .