“A man is not established by wickedness”: “Man” renders Hebrew ʾadam, a general term for a person or people. “Established” is used in 3.19 in regard to founding, making, creating in nature. In 16.12 the same term applies to the stability or security of the king on his throne. It is used in that sense in this line. “Wickedness” in Proverbs refers to evil or bad conduct, the wrong way to behave or treat others (see 2.22). This line affirms that wickedness does not offer anyone stability, safety, or security. However, in some languages it is not possible to speak of wickedness in this way. It is often necessary to say, for example, “If you are an evil person, you will have no security,” “Bad people do not live securely,” or “Evil people’s lives are always in danger.”

“But the root of the righteous will never be moved”: “The root of the righteous” is a figurative expression giving a picture of the righteous person as a plant with a deep root in the soil. Job 8.17-18 speaks of evil people having roots that will be pulled up. In this verse it is the righteous whose good root prevents them from being moved. “Will never be moved” is literally “will not totter [or, slip].” In some languages this figurative expression may be awkward. It may be possible, however, to retain the picture by shifting to a simile, as in Contemporary English Version, “But if you live right, you will be as secure as a tree with deep roots.”

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 .