77 Heb “heart.” The term “heart” is used as a metonymy of association for discernment, wisdom, good sense. Cf. “is a fool”; “lacks judgment”; , “has no sense.”
78 Heb “soul.” The noun נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul”) functions as a metonymy of association for “life” ( 659 3.c).
79 Heb “He will receive a wound and contempt.”
80 Even though the text has said that the man caught in adultery ruins his life, it does not mean that he was put to death, although that could have happened. He seems to live on in ignominy, destroyed socially and spiritually. He might receive blows and wounds from the husband and shame and disgrace from the spiritual community. D. Kidner observes that in a morally healthy society the adulterer would be a social outcast (Proverbs [], ).
81 The word “kindles” was supplied in the translation; both “rage” and “jealousy” have meanings connected to heat.
82 Heb “a man’s.”
83 The verb חָמַל (khamal) means “to show mercy; to show compassion; to show pity,” usually with the outcome of sparing or delivering someone. The idea here is that the husband will not spare the guilty man any of the punishment (cf. “he shows no restraint”).
84 Heb “lift up the face of,” meaning “regard.”
85 The word rendered “compensation” is כֹּפֶר (cofer); it is essentially a ransom price, a sum to be paid to deliver another from debt, bondage, or crime. The husband cannot accept payment as a ransom for a life, since what has happened cannot be undone so easily.
86 1005 שֹׁחַד suggests that this term means “hush money” or “bribe” (cf. , , ). C. H. Toy takes it as legal compensation (Proverbs [], ).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

He who commits adultery lacks sense;

he who does it destroys himself.

He will get wounds and dishonor,

and his disgrace will not be wiped away.

For jealousy makes a man furious,

and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

He will accept no compensation;

he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But a man who commits adultery has no sense;

whoever does so destroys himself.

Blows and disgrace are his lot,

and his shame will never be wiped away.

For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury,

and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

He will not accept any compensation;

he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The one who commits adultery lacks sense;

whoever does so destroys himself.

He will get a beating and dishonor,

and his disgrace will never be removed.

For jealousy enrages a husband,

and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

He will not be appeased by anything

or be persuaded by lavish bribes.

NLTNew Living Translation

But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool,

for he destroys himself.

He will be wounded and disgraced.

His shame will never be erased.

For the woman’s jealous husband will be furious,

and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

He will accept no compensation,

nor be satisfied with a payoff of any size.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

He who commits adultery with a woman lacks sense,

he destroys himself who does it.

A wound and dishonor he will find,

and his disgrace will not be wiped out.

For jealousy is the fury of a husband,

and he will not show restraint on the day of revenge.

He will not accept any compensation,

and he will not be willing, though the bribe is large.

KJV 1900King James Version

But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding:

He that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

A wound and dishonour shall he get;

And his reproach shall not be wiped away.

For jealousy is the rage of a man:

Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

He will not regard any ransom;

Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Public Domain