The statement about this group takes four lines in Hebrew compared to two lines for each of the other groups. This fact, together with the place of this description at the end of the sequence of four, suggests that this is the focus point of the whole saying; that is, this sin is the worst of all. There is certainly a level of brutality evident here which is not found in the first three parts of the saying.

“There are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives”: For “There are those . . .”, see verse 11. “Whose teeth are swords” and “whose teeth are knives” are figurative expressions that are part of an overall picture throughout the saying. The picture is of a hungry wild animal that tears the flesh of its prey with its sharp teeth (Contemporary English Version “others are so greedy that they gobble down. . .”). There are two different words for “teeth” here but no difference in meaning between them. Some take “teeth” as a metaphor for “words” and understand the verse to be about violent speech. But it seems more likely that the picture of the wild animal as a whole refers to cruelty and violence in general. “Swords” and “knives” are both weapons for cutting the bodies of people. In languages where it will be difficult for people to understand the figurative language if it is translated literally, it may be possible to render this first part of the verse as a simile. See the end of the verse for an example of this approach.

“To devour the poor from off the earth”: For expressions similar to this, see Psa 14.4 and Micah 3.2-3. This line is the key statement of the saying. The picture given is that this group of powerful people “devour” or “eat” those who are poor and weak. The real meaning is that they use their power to “exploit,” “oppress,” “take advantage of,” “treat cruelly,” those who are “poor”. “From off the earth” is probably part of the picture of the wild beast eating up its prey completely, rather than a statement that the powerful people actually kill those who are poor and get rid of them.

“And the needy from among men”: This line is parallel with the last part of the previous line and has the same meaning. The two lines may be combined, as in Good News Translation.

If the whole figurative approach of this verse is difficult to translate, the meaning may be expressed in nonfigurative language. Good News Translation, which also changes the order of the lines, is an example of this approach. Another is: “There are cruel people who cheat the poor to death. They abuse the needy until they disappear from the earth.”

A translation that expresses the figurative language as a simile is “Some people habitually treat poor people badly. It is like their mouths are full of spears and knives, and they want to eat up the poor and finish them off.”

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 .