13:22

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

22a
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

22b but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.

13:22a

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children: The meaning of this line is that the inheritance of a good person is passed on to family members from generation to generation. In some languages, a literal translation of this line may imply that a good man gives an inheritance to his grandchildren, but none to his children. One way to avoid this wrong implication is to use a general word such as “descendants” rather than children’s children or “grandchildren.” For example:

A good man leaves an inheritance to his descendants (Revised English Bible)

13:22b

but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous: This line means that the wealth that a sinner has accumulated during his lifetime will eventually be passed on to righteous people. It does not mean that a sinner stores up his wealth with the intention to give it to righteous people. Some other ways to express the correct meaning are:

but the sinner’s hoard passes to the righteous (Revised English Bible)
-or-
but the wealth of sinners will go to the righteous (Good News Translation)

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