“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord“: “Lying lips” means persons who lie or liars, and is the same as used in 10.18. “Abomination”, first used in the speech of Wisdom in 3.32, means something hated or disgusting. This line is well rendered by Good News Translation, or we may say, for example, “Liars are disgusting to the Lord.”

“But those who act faithfully are his delight”: “Those . . . faithfully” renders a noun phrase that refers to people who are steadfast, who can be trusted in what they do or say. “His delight” translates the same expression used in 11.1 and means that the Lord takes pleasure in or approves of such persons: “he is really happy with those who keep their word.” Contemporary English Version says “he [the Lord] is the friend of all who can be trusted.”

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 .