“On the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found”: “The lips”, like “the mouth” in verse 11, refers to words and thoughts. “Understanding”, as in 1.5, refers to intelligence, good sense, good judgment. “Wisdom” is close in meaning to “understanding”. See the discussion in 1.1-7. “Is found” may often need to be expressed actively. See the model after the discussion of the second line.

“But a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense”: “A rod” is a symbol of punishment. The word is the same as that used in Psa 23.4 for the club used to defend the sheep. Here the “rod” refers to a slender, flexible cane used for beating a prisoner or punishing someone. “Lacks sense” is literally “lacks heart,” where “heart” refers to intelligence or right thinking. See 6.32. “For the back” means that the cane is applied to his back or he is beaten on his back.

Here again the second line is not a very clear parallel with the first. This line is almost the same as 26.3b, where “fools” replaces “him who lacks sense”. The essential contrast in our verse may be expressed, for example, “People recognize the wisdom in the speech of an intelligent person, but they punish anyone who speaks stupidly.”

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 .