“Do not desire her beauty in your heart”: “Desire” is used here in the bad sense of seeking to satisfy a selfish desire or to lust after something. The warning is that the learner should not want this woman because of her beauty or charms or, as Contemporary English Version says, “Don’t let yourself be attracted by the charm” See Good News Translation “. . . tempted by their beauty” “In your heart” means in your mind and thought.

“Do not let her capture you with her eyelashes”: “Capture you”, which is literally “take you,” may be understood as “provoke you” by a change of vowels. This change is followed by some modern versions, but Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates the Hebrew text as “A.” “Capture” in this context means to seduce or lead astray. Some languages say “Don’t let her eyes trap you.” “Eyelashes” is literally “eyelids,” which appears to be used in terms of the way the woman attacks the man with her eyes. Some translations say “her glance.” Good News Translation has “don’t be trapped by their flirting eyes.” Bible en français courant has “don’t let yourself be seduced by her bewitching look.”

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 .