Verse 4 states the consequences of verse 3, just as verse 2 gives the consequences of verse 1. Good News Translation makes verse 4 a consequence of verse 3 by saying “If you do this. . ..”

“So you will find favor and good repute”: “So”, which introduces the consequence, translates the common Hebrew connector. “Find favor” means to be accepted, approved, or well thought of. “Repute”, as the Revised Standard Version footnote shows, is a correction of the Hebrew text, which has “understanding” (“Cn” in the footnote stands for “Correction”). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, however, rates the Hebrew text as “B” and suggests that “good intelligence” may also be taken to mean “good success” or “good behavior.”

“In the sight of God and man”: In some languages translators may find it more natural to make “God and man” (“people”, New Revised Standard Version) the actors of the verb. Contemporary English Version does this by saying “God and people will like you and consider you a success.” In some languages a somewhat more formal rendering of the verse is possible, for example, “If you do this, you will be loved and approved by God and by people.”

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 .