“To preserve you from the evil woman”: It may be necessary to begin verse 24 with a new subject, such as “Those teachings” or “They.” “Preserve” renders a verb meaning to keep from, protect, or guard. “Woman” is singular, but the sense is collective, “evil women.” “Evil” is defined in the following lines as a flattering “adventuress” and as a prostitute. Although Hebrew Old Testament Text Project classifies “evil woman” as a “C” and so accepts that there is considerable doubt as to the Hebrew text here, it recommends this form rather than “neighbor’s wife” or “another’s wife” as occurs in the Septuagint, which is followed by a number of modern versions including New Revised Standard Version.

“From the smooth tongue of the adventuress”: “Smooth tongue” is a figurative way to speak of seductive flattery (see 2.16). Flattery is the use of praise or exaggeration to obtain some advantage over the person being falsely praised. Psa 5.9 (Hebrew verse 10) says “they make their tongues smooth,” which means they engage in insincere flattery. Many languages have idiomatic ways of expressing the idea of flattery or of a flatterer.

“Adventuress” (see 2.16) translates “the strange woman.” The term is taken by a number of versions and interpreters to mean a woman who is another man’s wife. We may render verse 24, for example, “They will protect you from the ways of a bad woman and from the smooth talk of another man’s wife.”

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 .