“Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord“: For “Sheol” see 1.12. “Abaddon” is a noun formed from the Hebrew verb meaning “to perish.” Both “Sheol” and “Abaddon” refer to the place of the dead. Note that Good News Translation does not use these two names but rather replaces them with “the world of the dead.” “Lie open” is a way of translating what is literally “Sheol and Abaddon before the Lord.”

“How much more the hearts of men”: “How much more” or “even more so he sees inside. . ..” The thought expressed is that if God can gaze into the dark mystery of the world of the dead, he can certainly see into a human heart. “Hearts” refers to the inner life or the secret life. “Men” is literally “the sons of men” meaning “human beings,” “all people” or “everyone.” Contemporary English Version says “If the Lord can see everything in the world of the dead, he can see in our hearts.” If it is not possible to use “see” in this way in your language, it may be possible to express this thought, for example, “If the Lord knows what goes on in the world of the dead, he surely knows what we think in our hearts.” Note Good News Translation “how then can we hide our thoughts from God?”

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 .