“To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good”: “To impose a fine” is to punish someone by making them pay for an offense. This saying assumes a legal action by a judge, as in Exo 21.22. “A righteous man” here means an innocent person, someone who is not guilty of any offense. New Revised Standard Version has revised Revised Standard Version to say “the innocent.” “Is not good” is related to what is legally right and wrong, and may be rendered, for example, “is not right” or “is not just.”

“To flog noble men is wrong”: “To flog” is literally “to beat,” and the limitations to this punishment are set out in Deut 25.2-3. “Noble men” translates a word that may refer to persons of noble rank, as in verse 7 where Revised Standard Version has “prince.” However, in this context interpreters see the term as referring to persons of noble or honorable character rather than being restricted to those of high social rank. See Good News Translation.

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 .