Proverbs 11
1 False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto him.
A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 [Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. ]
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9 In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 [At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour. The slothful come to want: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.
A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
17 A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in death.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [it].
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He that devises good [counsels] seeks good favour: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake him.
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 He that deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31 If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
