2:15

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. The Hebrew phrases form a chiasm. The parts in 2:15b occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 2:15a, as can be seen in the New International Version below.

15a whose paths are crooked

15b and who are devious in their ways.

If a chiasm is not natural in your language, you may need to change the order of the parallel parts, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

2:15a–b

whose paths are crooked…whose ways are devious: These two lines are very similar in meaning. Both paths and ways refer to conduct, as in 2:13. The phrase paths are crooked refers here to actions that are morally crooked or wrong and ways… devious refers to conduct that deceives others.

One way to translate these two metaphors is to translate the meaning of the first metaphor without using a figure of speech. Keep the second metaphor. For example:

15a What they do is wrong, (New Century Version)

15b and their ways are dishonest. (New Century Version)

Some other ways to translate the second line are:

They are dishonest.
-or-
They habitually do what is dishonest.
-or-
They cannot be trusted.

General Comment on 2:15a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts, as the Good News Translation has done:

unreliable people who cannot be trusted (Good News Translation)

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