“A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom”: New Revised Standard Version has revised “A wicked man” to “The wicked.” The person who gives or accepts a bribe is called “wicked” here because he is perverting justice. “Accepts” translates the verb “to take.” The subject of this verb could be a corrupt judge, a witness, or the person who offers the bribe. “From the bosom” suggests that the bribe is hidden in the folds of the briber’s garment. “Bosom” renders the same word translated “lap” in 16.33. New Revised Standard Version says “a concealed bribe.” See Good News Translation.

“To pervert the ways of justice”: “Pervert” translates a different verb than that used in 10.9, but the sense is the same, to act in a crooked, deceitful way. “The ways of justice” means the course of justice, the way things should be done, fairly and honestly. Contemporary English Version translates “Crooks accept secret bribes to keep justice from being done.” In some languages this is expressed “Bad people eat bribes and so people are not treated fairly in courts.”

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 .