Verses 11-14 are a series of figurative statements about speech. They each have the same structure in Hebrew, with the figure or comparison in the first line and the person or quality compared to it in the second line. This order is unusual in many languages, and translators are advised to reverse it if necessary. The first two of the statements (verses 11-12) use jewelry as the image of comparison.

“A word fitly spoken”: Revised Standard Version reverses the two lines of the Hebrew to place the comparison after the item compared. Note that Good News Translation does the same. In Hebrew the comparison is not marked with a word such as “like.” “Fitly” renders a word that occurs only here in the Old Testament and its exact meaning is therefore uncertain. Some consider it to be related to the meaning of a similar Arabic word meaning “time.” If this is correct, it may mean “a word spoken at the right time.” New English Bible/Revised English Bible agree by translating “in season.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “at the right moment.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “at an opportune moment.” Others understand the Hebrew word to be related to “wheel” and so translate “well-turned.” Bible en français courant has “A speech well-turned is. . ..” See Good News Translation “an idea well expressed.”

“Is like apples of gold in a setting of silver”: The word “apples” is considered by Whybray as wrong because this fruit was not known in that part of the world in Old Testament times. A more likely sense is “design” or “engraving.” See Good News Translation “a design of gold.” “A setting of silver” appears to refer to some kind of carved work. Toy calls the two comparisons “graved work of gold and carved work of silver.” However, Good News Translation “design of gold set in silver” appears to give a fully adequate rendering and is a suitable model for translation.

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 .