Verse 6
6. Upright in the way תם דרךְ . ( tam darek,) perfect of way, a periphrasis for a man of integrity, an upright, perfect man; his righteousness guards him is his protection.
Overthroweth The primary meaning of the verb סל Š ( salaph) is, to slip, and in the form used here, to cause to slip. See Gesenius, who renders this clause, “Wickedness causeth the erring (fool) to slip.” Substantially followed by Noyes: “Wickedness causeth the sinner to slip.” This makes a good antithesis.
The sinner Literally, sin; but the abstract is often put for the concrete the sinner or the sinful their own wickedness hurls them down. The proverb, so rendered, asserts the natural consequences of righteousness on the one hand, and of wickedness on the other. But some contend that חשׂאת ( hhattath) means sin offering. Miller renders: “Wickedness subverts the sin offering.”
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