The theme of this saying is the inconsistency or hypocrisy of wicked people who come to make sacrifices to God. The form of the saying is “A is bad . . . but B is worse.”

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination”: This line is almost the same as the first line of 15.8. See the comments there. “The sacrifice of the wicked” means the sacrifice that a wicked person tries to offer; so Revised English Bible has “sacrifice from a wicked person,” and Good News Translation “when wicked people offer him sacrifices.” Although “to the Lord” is not in the text following “an abomination” here, it must be understood. The sense is that “The Lord hates. . ..”

“How much more when he brings it with evil intent”: This line begins with a word that marks climax and emphasis, going further or to a higher level than what is said in the first line. “How much more when” expresses the sense well in English; other ways of beginning this line are “the more so when. . .” (Revised English Bible), “above all if. . .” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “it is even worse when. . ..” “With evil intent” translates a Hebrew word that means “plan” or “purpose,” almost always in a bad sense. In 10.23 Revised Standard Version renders this same word as “[do] wrong.” New Jerusalem Bible renders it “bad motives,” Good News Translation “evil motives,” and Revised English Bible “impure motives.” Toy suggests that the “bad motives” are that the sacrifice will enable the wicked person to escape from the consequences of his evil deeds.

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 .