Verses 29 and 30 give the reason for verse 28.

“Because they hated knowledge” is the same as in verse 22. See there for comments. The sense of “hated knowledge” is “rejected” or “refused.” Rather than “hated knowledge” some languages prefer the form “you did not want to have knowledge.” Translators may find it best to use a verb phrase to express the sense of “knowledge”; for example, “You refused to learn.” Bible en français courant says “You have refused to learn to live.”

“Did not choose the fear of the Lord“: “Not choose” is used as a matching term for “hated” in the first line of this verse. “Did not choose” may be rendered “You did not follow,” “You turned against,” or “You would have no part in.” “Fear of the Lord” is the same as in verse 7.

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 .