“He who plans to do evil”: The verb “plans” means “think up,” “plot,” or “devise.” See 16.30, where it is used in the same sense of planning to do perverse things. The verb form here suggests that this is something the person does continuously, not just once. Since this is an attitude of mind, some versions render the sense by expressing that attitude; for example, “Anyone intent on evildoing” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “Whoever is bent on mischief” (Revised English Bible).

“Will be called a mischief-maker”: The verb “will be called”, which is passive in Revised Standard Version and most English versions, renders the Hebrew expression “they will call him.” The subject is an impersonal third person plural, referring to people in general; and for some languages “they will call. . .” or “people will call. . .” will be the most natural way to translate the line. Some other ways of rendering the verb in English which express the idea of what people think about the person are “will be known as. . .” (New International Version), “gets a name for. . .” (Revised English Bible), and “will earn a reputation as. . .” (Good News Translation). “A mischief-maker” is the Hebrew idiom “a master of intrigue”; so Scott renders it “a master of trickery” and New Jerusalem Bible “a master in cunning.” Some languages have idioms similar to the Hebrew, which can be used very appropriately here. Other suitable English terms are “schemer” (New International Version, Moffatt) and “troublemaker” (Contemporary English Version, 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 .