“The way of a sluggard is overgrown with thorns”: “The way” in this context refers to the life, conduct, or activities of a person. “A sluggard”, first used in 6.6 and 6.9, refers to a lazy person. “Overgrown with thorns” is literally “like a thorn hedge.” The sense seems to be that the lazy person finds obstacles everywhere in his life and so is unable to accomplish anything.

“But the path of the upright is a level highway”: “The path of the upright” parallels and contrasts with “The way of the sluggard”. However, some interpreters feel that “the upright” is not a suitable contrast with “a sluggard” and so follow the Septuagint that has “diligent,” as in 13.4 in Revised Standard Version. Accordingly, New English Bible/Revised English Bible say “but the road of the diligent is. . ..” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers “those who go in a straight way.” This is close to Good News Translation “if you are honest. . ..” “Level highway” refers to a road or path that has no obstacles and is easy to walk on. Contemporary English Version translates the whole saying “Being lazy is like walking in a thorn patch, but everyone who does right walks on a smooth road.”

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 .