“There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way”: “There is” is supplied by Revised Standard Version. “Severe” renders a word whose general meaning is “bad” or “evil.” In relation to “discipline” the sense is “painful,” “harsh,” or “vicious.” “Discipline”, as in 3.11, refers to “correction,” “rebuke,” or “punishment.” “Forsakes the way” means to depart from the way of wisdom, knowledge, or righteousness. Contemporary English Version says “If you turn from the right way, you will be punished.”

“He who hates reproof will die”: For “hates” “reproof” see 12.1. “Shall die” is parallel to “severe discipline”, but the thought is intensified from punishment in line 1 to death in line 2. See Good News Translation.

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 .