This saying contrasts the instability of the wicked with the stability or safety of the righteous.

“The wicked are overthrown and are no more”: “Overthrown” renders a different word than that used in 11.11 but has a similar sense. The same Hebrew word as used here is also used in Lam 4.6 in reference to the sudden destruction of Sodom. It means to be destroyed or ruined; the sense may be that God brings the wicked to an end. In some languages it is necessary to express the fact that God is the agent of destruction; for example, “If God destroys the wicked. . ..” “And are no more” is literally “and they are not,” that is, “they cease to exist.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “and that is their end.” We may also say, for example, “and they disappear” or “and you see them no more.” Note, however, that some like Good News Translation interpret “and are no more” in the light of “house of the righteous” in line 2 to refer to having no “descendants” or “families.”

“But the house of the righteous will stand”: “House” may refer to the physical home and land whose loss could lead to poverty and slavery, particularly in ancient times. “Will stand” means to remain, withstand, stand firm against threats or disaster. As noted above Good News Translation translates this line “but the families of the righteous live on.” If taken to mean the physical home, we may say with New Jerusalem Bible “but the house of the upright stands firm.”

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 .