“For the Lord will be your confidence”: “For” introduces this verse as the reason for the encouragement given in verse 25. “Confidence” refers to trust, faith, reliability. In the context of verses 24-25, “confidence” has the sense of courage, hope, security in the presence of threatening conditions. We may translate, for example, “The Lord will give you courage,” “The Lord will keep you safe,” or in some languages idiomatically “The Lord will make your liver quiet.”

“Will keep your foot from being caught”: The thought is that of the foot being caught in a trap or snare. The “foot” represents the whole person; accordingly Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates “He will prevent you from falling into a trap.” Bible en français courant says “he will remove every trap from your steps.” Contemporary English Version is nonfigurative with “the Lord will protect you from harm.” See also Good News 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 .