A number of commentators regard verses 5 and 6 as a reply to verses 2-4 or a statement to give relief from its negative tone. Toy suggests, for instance, that this passage may be either the editor’s reply to Agur’s words, or Agur’s reply to someone he has quoted in the earlier verses. But these verses do not answer particular matters in verses 2-4; so they can only be seen as a reply in a general sense.

Verses 5 and 6 state that God’s revelation of himself can be relied upon and “is confirmed in the experience of the religious man” (Scott).

“Every word of God proves true”: “Every word of God” may also be expressed as “everything God says” (Scott, Contemporary English Version). In the context of the whole sentence, this is taken by Revised English Bible and Good News Translation in the narrower sense of “every promise.” The Hebrew term translated “proves true” is literally “smelted” or “refined”; here it is used in a figurative sense meaning “pure,” “purified,” or “tried.” Scott and Revised English Bible render it “has stood the test,” New International Version “is flawless,” and Contemporary English Version “is true.”

“He is a shield to those who take refuge in him”: This same thought is found also in 2 Sam 22.31 and Psa 18.30 (verse 31 in Hebrew). For “shield” see 2.7. “He is a shield” is figurative language that many English translations reproduce. Good News Translation expresses it as a simile: “He is like a shield.” In situations where the use of a “shield” for defense or protection is not well known, it is possible to say, “He protects those who. . ..” To “take refuge in him” is to “go to him for protection” or “seek his protection” (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 .