“The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing”: Many translations express the subject of this first line as a plural, “wicked people.” “Overthrown” renders the passive form of a verb meaning to “push,” “thrust,” “cast down.” It is through their “evil-doing” or by doing evil things that “The wicked” are cast down. The sense is well expressed by Good News Translation. This line may also be translated, for example, “By doing evil deeds wicked people cause their own destruction.”

“But the righteous finds refuge through his integrity”: For “refuge” see verse 26. The Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation footnotes show that the Hebrew text has “in his death” in place of “through his integrity”, which is the Septuagint form and that followed by most interpreters. The Hebrew form of the text may be taken as an expression of belief in personal immortality, but the expression is not seen elsewhere in Proverbs. The Hebrew Old Testament Text Project editors were divided, rating both the Septuagint and Hebrew texts as “C.” Those members recommending the Hebrew text translate “in his misfortune [or, at the time of misfortune] the wicked is rejected, while even at death the righteous is confident.” Those supporting the Septuagint recommend “The wicked is rejected due to his evil, while the righteous finds confidence in his integrity.” A clearer expression of the Septuagint form is Good News Translation. “His integrity” means that the person follows a moral or ethical system consistently in his decisions (see 2.7). It is closely related to honesty and trust. “Protected by their integrity” may be expressed, for example, “Their honesty and truth protect them.”

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 .