Most English versions make this verse a new paragraph, and thus indicate that they regard it as a separate saying. Scott makes this very clear by giving it a separate heading as well. But as the commentators note, there is something of a connection with the end of verse 19, both in the subject and in the use of the Hebrew expression “the way of.”

“This is the way of an adulteress”: In this context “This is the way of” may be rendered as “This is how an adulteress acts” (Scott) or “This is what . . . does.” “An adulteress” is literally “a woman [or, wife] committing adultery”; this would refer to a married woman having intercourse with another man. Revised English Bible and Good News Translation are quite accurate, therefore, when they translate “an unfaithful wife.”

“She eats, and wipes her mouth”: In this context “eats” is figurative language meaning “has sexual intercourse.” Good News Translation expresses this as “she commits adultery”; some other translations say “she goes and sleeps with another man.” Following this approach “wipes her mouth” may be taken as “takes a bath” (Good News Translation) or “washes herself.”

“And says, “I have done no wrong””: There is no indication of who these words may have been spoken to, and, if necessary, it is possible to take “says” as “says to herself” or “thinks.” The term translated “wrong” occurs elsewhere in Proverbs in the expressions “a wicked man” (6.12) and “evildoers” (10.29); its translation here should have a strong sense of “wickedness” or “evil.”

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 .