Verse 31 states a consequence of the fools’ refusal to be corrected by Wisdom. “Therefore” translates the common Hebrew connector. A fuller expression is “On account of all this. . ..”

“Eat the fruit of their way” is an idiomatic way of saying that people must suffer the consequences of their conduct. Many translations keep the literal expression, but some exceptions are Good News Translation “So then, you will get what you deserve,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Bible en français courant “You [plural] will suffer the consequences of your conduct.” On the other hand some languages keep the idiom by saying “Their acts bear fruit and they will have to eat them.”

In languages in which this idiom will create misunderstandings, it is advisable to avoid the figurative language and follow Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, or Bible en français courant. Other idioms that are quite commonly used in this kind of context are “you will get the pay [or, reward] for all your bad behavior” and “you will reap the harvest of your bad behavior.”

“And be sated with their own devices”: “Be sated” means to be filled or gratified to the point of being stuffed. “Devices” here refers to mental activities such as evil plans, schemes, or intentions that may or may not become actions. New Jerusalem Bible has “So they will have to eat the fruits of their own ways of life, and choke themselves with their own scheming,” Contemporary English Version “Now you will eat the fruit of what you have done, until you are stuffed full with your own schemes.” Bible en français courant has “You will suffer the consequences of your conduct, you will be filled to the point of disgust by the results of your plots.”

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 .