“The partner of a thief hates his own life”: “The partner of a thief” is literally “he who shares with a thief.” This probably refers to someone who helps a thief steal and so is rewarded by receiving some of the thief’s stolen goods. “Hates his own life” needs to be understood in light of the meaning of the second line.

“He hears the curse, but discloses nothing”: “He” refers to the person who is in partnership with the thief in line 1. “Hears the curse” is best understood by reference to Lev 5.1-6 in which a witness to a crime or anyone involved in it must reveal what they know. Failure to do so after the curse or oath has been spoken results in a person being cursed. The curse can only be canceled by confession and the offering of a sacrifice. The partner of the thief “hates his own life” or “hates himself,” because he is bound to suffer the effects of the curse for not telling what he knows about the crime. Contemporary English Version, which takes “the curse” here to refer to taking an oath in court, makes this saying clear: “If you take part in a crime, you are your worst enemy, because even under oath you can’t tell the truth.”

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 .