“These also are proverbs of Solomon”: “These also are” indicates that these chapters (25–29) are to accompany the first collection in 10.1–22.16. For discussion and translation suggestions for “proverbs of Solomon”, see the comments on a title for the book as well as those at 1.1.

“Which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied”: “The men of Hezekiah” refers to the scribes or copyists in the court of King Hezekiah of Judah. “Copied” renders a verb that normally means “remove”; in this context it means to remove from one book to another and therefore to “transcribe,” “transmit,” or “publish.”

We may translate verse 1, for example, “Here are more wise sayings given by Solomon that were gathered together by the writers in King Hezekiah’s court in the country of Judah.”

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 .