Verse 5 introduces the first results that follow from the conditions or commands in verses 1-4.

“Then you will understand the fear of the Lord“: “Then” marks the logical consequence of having carried out all the conditions or of having obeyed the commands. In some languages it may be clearer to begin verse 5 by saying, for example, “Do all those things and. . ..” If verses 1-4 are restructured as commands, verse 5 may begin “If you do those things, [here is what will happen] . . .” (see Good News Translation). “You” continues to address the learner who is referred to as “my son” or “my child” in verse 1. “Fear of the Lord” or “fear of Yahweh” is the same as in 1.7. “Understand” means to know to fear the Lord. See Good News Translation or, as Bible en français courant says “Do that and you will know how to respect the authority of the Lord.”

“Find the knowledge of God”: “Knowledge of God” is an expression that occurs elsewhere only in Hos 4.1 and 6.6. The equivalent expression “knowledge of the Most High” also occurs in Num 24.16. The full expression must often be rendered as “to know God.” Good News Translation says “you will succeed in learning about God.” However, “learning about” does not seem to give the full sense intended. It is better to say something like “You will succeed in knowing God.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch offers a good model translation: “Then you will also learn to know who God is and to take the Lord earnestly.”

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 .