This saying has some form and content in common with verse 20.

“He who despises his neighbor is a sinner”: New Revised Standard Version has revised “He who” to “Those who.” “Despises” translates the same word used in 6.30, meaning “show contempt for,” “look down on.” “Neighbor” is the same word as in verse 20; however, in this verse there is sympathy expressed toward the “neighbor”. Also, it is assumed here that the neighbor is poor. Some translations follow the Septuagint and replace “neighbor” by “hungry man.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project opposes this change by giving a “B” rating to “neighbor”. “Sinner” in Hebrew is a verb form meaning “one who sins.” However, this word contrasts with “happy is he who” in the next line and so may be taken as “the person who fails to obtain happiness.”

“But happy is he who is kind to the poor”: “Happy” translates the word used in Psa 1.1, which is traditionally rendered “blessed” with the understanding that God is the one who blesses. With this thought in mind Contemporary English Version says “It’s wrong to hate others, but God blesses. . ..” As in the first line, New Revised Standard Version replaces “he who” with “those who.” “Kind to the poor” means to be merciful or compassionate in dealing with poor people and may be expressed more concretely as “generous” (New English Bible/Revised English Bible). Being “kind to the poor” is a theme that is repeated in 14.31; 19.17; and 28.8. The Contemporary English Version rendering may serve as a suitable model translation: “but God blesses everyone who is kind to the poor.”

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 .