21:8
This proverb contrasts the devious conduct of guilty people with the upright conduct of innocent people.
8a
The way of a guilty man is crooked,
8b but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
21:8a–b
The way…the conduct: These parallel terms both refer to conduct, behavior, or way of life. No contrast is intended between them in this context.
a guilty man…the innocent: These two terms identify two types of people who have contrasting character.
is crooked…is upright: These two terms describe the contrasting behavior or conduct of people who are “guilty” and “innocent,” respectively. The first term refers to a way of life that is “devious” (New International Version) or “dishonest” (New Century Version). The second term describes behavior that is “straight” (New Jerusalem Bible), “honest” (New Century Version) or “right” (New American Bible).
Some ways to translate the contrasts in this verse are:
• Use the metaphor of a way or path in one or both lines. For example:
The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road. (New Living Translation (2004))
• Translate the meaning without using this metaphor. For example:
Guilty people live dishonest lives, but honest people do right. (New Century Version)
21:8a
a guilty man: This term occurs only here in the Old Testament. It refers to a person who is burdened with sin or crime. Most English versions translate it as the Berean Standard Bible does. Here are some other ways to translate this:
criminal (Revised English Bible)
-or-
culprit (New American Bible)
-or-
felon (New Jerusalem Bible)
21:8b
the innocent: In Hebrew, this term refers to a person whose character is “pure” (New Revised Standard Version) in the sense of being “unmixed with evil.” In English, the word innocent provides a good contrast with words such as “guilty” or “criminal.” (See the notes on the same word at 16:2a and 20:11b.)
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