“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked”: “Forsake”, as in 4.2, means to “reject” or “abandon.” “The law” translates the Hebrew torah, which may mean either the Mosaic Law or the teachings of the wise. Scott takes it to mean “morality,” but Bible en français courant and Revised English Bible have “God’s law.” If the translation of “law” is likely to be understood as local regulations, it will be better to translate “God’s law.” “Praise the wicked” is often expressed as “say that evil people are great” or “speak well of the wicked.”

“But those who keep the law strive against them”: This line contrasts with the first. “Keep the law” means “obey the law.” “Strive against” means “to struggle against” or “to be in conflict with.” Here we may say, for example, “Those who obey God’s law struggle against evil people” or, as Contemporary English Version says, “. . . always oppose them.”

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 .