This saying encourages frank and honest speaking to a friend or neighbor and the avoidance of flattery, as in 9.8; 19.25; 25.12.

“He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor”: “Rebukes” is rendered “reprove” in 19.25 and means to correct, criticize, or reprimand somebody in order to change his behavior or thinking. “Afterward” is literally “after me,” which makes no sense in this context. Many interpreters modify the Hebrew word to get one meaning “later,” as Revised Standard Version does with “afterward”. The idea expressed in this line is that the person who is rebuked or corrected may not appreciate it at the time, but later will see it as a favor. For “find . . . favor” see 3.4.

“Than he who flatters with his tongue”: The sense of “flatters” is to speak words of praise about someone or, as some languages say, “to use sweet talk.” In English and many other languages it is not necessary to include “with his tongue” in translation. This verse may be translated as in Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation. We may also say, for example, “If you correct someone, they will later thank you. It is better than using flattery.”

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 .