“None who go to her come back”: This refers to entering her house for the purpose of having sex with her. Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version say “visit her.” Translators should use the natural expression that is used for paying a visit to a prostitute. “Come back” means to return to life in the community.

“Nor do they regain the paths of life”: This line affirms figuratively that such persons go to their deaths, that is, they do not find their way back to the world of the living.

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 .