“He who trusts in his riches will wither”: “He who” again renders the Hebrew form meaning “the one trusting,” where “trust” means to rely or depend on. The sense intended is that such a person depends on his wealth to protect him or deliver him from trouble. Some translations say, “. . . thinks money will help him to be safe.” “Riches” is as first used in 3.16. See also verse 16 of this chapter. “Wither”, as the Revised Standard Version footnote shows, is literally “fall down” in the Hebrew text. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project considers “will fall down” an “A” text and sees no need for correcting the Hebrew. For “fall” refer to verse 5. Note that Good News Translation has added in the form of a simile “fall like the leaves of autumn” to make a contrast with its rendering “like the leaves of summer” in the second line. This is to retain and to give meaning to “fall down.” However, it is not necessary to add this simile if the word used to render “fall down” is clear in this context.

“But the righteous will flourish like a green leaf”: “Flourish” means to bud, send out sprouts, or to grow. “Like a green leaf” is a simile found, for example, in Psa 1.3 and 92.12-14 (Hebrew verses 13-15). “A green leaf” is one that is well nourished and growing. Contemporary English Version says “like healthy plants.”

In some languages it will not be possible to use “fall” to mean “fail” or “collapse,” and “wither” may be unnatural when used in reference to a person. In such cases it may be necessary to make some kind of adjustment such as in Good News Translation. Or it may be possible to keep the contrast by saying, for example, “If you trust in your riches, you will become like a dry leaf, but good people will grow like healthy plants.”

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 .