“By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted”: The preferred understanding of “blessing” is the benefit bestowed on the city by the “upright” person. Others take the view that by God giving “blessing” to the upright, the city benefits. In either case the “blessing” comes from God, but in the former interpretation the emphasis is upon the action of the upright person. “Blessing” may be understood here as words or deeds, or as prosperity. “Exalted” means elevated in rank or power, and so to be praised or made great. Good News Translation says “A city becomes great when. . ..” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders this line “Blessings come through the upright and build up the city.”

“But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked”: This line contrasts with the first in that what the wicked person says prevents the city, that is, the people of the city, from being blessed. Moreover, they are “overthrown”, that is to say “they are destroyed or ruined.”

We may translate this verse, for example, “God’s gifts to the upright person make a city great, but the speech of the wicked brings about its ruin.”

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 .