This verse explains the reward that is given for keeping the commands in verse 1.

“For length of days and years of life”: “For”, together with the subject and verb “they will give” at the end, links this verse to the previous verse as the reason why the learner should treasure the words of the teacher. “Length of . . . life” is “many days and many years” or a long life, as promised in the traditional language of Exo 20.12.

“Abundant welfare will they give you” is literally “They will add peace [Hebrew shalom] to you,” where shalom refers to peace, prosperity, wholeness, health, and completeness of life. It is remembering and practicing the wisdom teachings that will bring the learner this reward. Contemporary English Version says “They will help you live a long and prosperous life.” :Bible en français courant says “Thanks to my advice you will experience well-being and have a long and happy life.”

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 .

“Toward the scorners he is scornful”: “Scorners” are people who ridicule or make fun of others. There is no indication in this context that the “scorners” are ridiculing God or religion; but since they are contrasted in the next line with “the humble”, it appears that they think of themselves as superior or greater than others. We may render this line, for example, “He mocks those who mock others” or “He makes fun of those who make fun of others.”

“But to the humble he shows favor”: “Humble” renders a word that is related to a verb meaning “bowed” or “bent” and may suggest someone who bows beneath a hostile force, such as a slave or a suffering, poor person. “Shows favor” is literally “gives grace,” which means he is kind, gracious, good. The Septuagint form of this verse, “The Lord resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble,” is quoted in James 4.6 and 1 Peter 5.5.

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 .

In the structure of this verse the second line does not simply repeat the thought of the first line in other words; it extends the sense by adding a second picture to that given in the first line.

“But in the end she is bitter as wormwood”: “In the end” means the final result, after having a relationship with her, when it is all over and done. Contemporary English Version says, “But all that you really get from being with her. . ..” Some other translations say, “But when you’ve finished with her. . ..” “Wormwood” is usually a symbol of suffering as the result of injustice. See Amos 5.7; 6.12. It is a plant from which a bitter-tasting juice is made and used as a medicine. See Lam 3.15. If a medicine made from a local plant is known for its bitter or foul taste, it may be used here. Quinine is an example that is known in some parts of the world. The thought expressed in this line is what at first appeared so pleasant ends up like bitter tasting medicine. If there is no local plant that can serve, it may be possible to say, for example, “but that woman turns out to be like a bitter tasting plant” or “but after some time that woman is like poison.”

“Sharp as a two-edged sword”: This figure, which is literally “sword of edges,” is also used in Psa 149.6. It refers to that which causes wounds and pain. If the image of the sword is not suitable here, it may be possible to substitute a knife or other sharp instrument. It is also possible to include the nonfigurative meaning; for example, “and she wounds a person like a knife cuts them.”

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 .

This verse continues the description of the wicked person’s actions.

“Winks with his eyes, scrapes with his feet”: “Winks” is also used in 10.10, where this gesture is linked with making trouble. This expression is used in Psa 35.19, where it is in parallel with “rejoice over me.” Good News Translation renders it there as “smirk with delight over my sorrow.” It is most likely a sign of insincerity and deceit. “Scrapes . . . feet” is not used elsewhere in the Old Testament but is an additional gesture similar in sense to the ones before and after it.

“Points with his finger”: This is a third gesture that the wicked person uses to communicate deceit.

Translators must pay particular attention to the significance of gestures and their meanings, as in different cultures these particular gestures may carry different meanings than what is intended here. The wicked person is here a deceiver, and as he says one thing he is busy making gestures to someone to show that he really means something different. In order to make this clear, it may be necessary to say, for example, “(12) A worthless and evil person goes around telling lies, (13) and while he does, he winks, and points with his foot or his finger.” We may also avoid naming these particular gestures by speaking more generally; for example, “and so he makes signs with his eyes, his foot, and his finger to hide his lies.”

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 .

In verses 13-18 the woman invites the young man to share her sacrificial meal and describes the perfumed bed they will enjoy.

“She seizes him and kisses him”: The woman grabs hold of the youth. In this combination of verbs it may be more natural to follow those translations that say, “She puts her arm[s] around him. . ..” “Kiss” in the Old Testament normally refers to the gesture of greeting or taking leave of close relatives. The “kiss” that has sexual significance is mentioned only here and in Song 1.2 and 8.1. In some languages the equivalent of “kiss” is hug, embrace, press the body against, or push the lips together.

“With impudent face”: This expression is literally “she hardens her face” and probably means to put on a bold front (see 21.29) or to do something without showing shame or regret. A number of translations have “She looked him straight in the eye and said. . ..”

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 .

“Riches and honor are with me”: Refer to 3.16 for “Riches and honor”. There is no verb in the Hebrew of this verse, but in line with the general context “with me” suggests these are things that Wisdom grants or gives to those who seek her. We may say, for example, “I have riches and honor” or “I give you riches and honor.” A fuller expression of the sense of this line is, for example, “I have power to make you rich people and to make people honor you.”

“Enduring wealth and prosperity”: While “wealth” renders a term commonly used in Proverbs, “enduring” translates a Hebrew word that occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament. The verb form of this word means to advance or move forward. Whybray suggests that it can be used figuratively in regard to space, time, value, and quality; and in light of the context, “enduring” is probably correct. Some versions say “lasting.”

“Prosperity”, which is literally “righteousness,” is even more of a problem. There are two main interpretations of the word in this context. Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible and others understand it to refer to success or good fortune. Here it is the fruits of “righteousness” rather than righteousness or justice itself. The reward for being righteous is “prosperity”, particularly in view of the parallelism of the two lines. “Prosperity” may be translated, for example, “make you win [be successful] in everything.”

The second view is that “righteousness” should be retained in the translation, as in King James Version and the Living Bible. McKane supports King James Version and argues “What wisdom gives essentially is a way of life which possesses ethical fitness and equity.” In this case “righteousness” may be translated by such terms as “rightness,” “fairness,” or “justice.” New Jerusalem Bible has “saving justice.”

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 .