“A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways”: The expression “A perverse man” was first used by Revised Standard Version in 3.32. The Hebrew uses a different term here and means a person who has turned away in his heart (from the right way). New English Bible/Revised English Bible call such persons “renegades.” Moffatt has “he who goes wrong.” “Will be filled” translates a verb meaning “to be sated,” that is, “to be satisfied [usually the appetite] to the point of excess,” “to have too much.” “The fruit of his ways” is literally “from his ways,” which refers to the bad conduct or evil way of life of the perverse person. This line affirms that the wicked person will suffer the consequences of his behavior. See Good News Translation.

“And a good man with the fruit of his deeds”: The Revised Standard Version footnote shows that the Hebrew text has “from upon him” and that Revised Standard Version has made a change in the text to get “of his deeds”. “Fruit” has been supplied in both lines by Revised Standard Version. Although this line is difficult, the thought here is that the good person will be satisfied (rewarded) more than the perverse person in line 1. The saying contrasts the greater satisfaction for the good person with that of the bad person. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which rates the Hebrew text translated “from upon him” as “B,” admits that the text in this form is not original and suggests as a translation something like “The perverse person will only be satisfied by his wicked ways, but the good person will have a greater satisfaction.” Translators may find Good News Translation a better model than this.

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 .