Proverbs 11

1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.

Yahweh detests [people who use] scales that do not weigh correctly; he is delighted with [those who use] correct weights on the scales.

2 When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.

[People who are] proud will [eventually] be disgraced; it is wise to be humble.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

[People who are] good are guided by [doing what is] honest; those who are not honest will be ruined because of the wrong things that they do.

4 Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

[Your] money will not help [you] on the day that [God] judges [and punishes people]; but if you live righteously, you will live a long time.

5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

When people are honest and good, that will (direct their paths/show them what is right for them to do); but wicked [people will] experience disasters because of the evil things that they do.

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.

[God] rescues/protects righteous [people] because they (are honest/do what is right), but those who (are treacherous/cannot be trusted) will be trapped because of their being greedy.

7 When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.

When wicked [people] die, they cannot confidently expect to receive anything [that is good]; they expect that [their money] will help/save them, but it will not.

8 A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.

[Yahweh] rescues righteous [people] from their troubles/difficulties; instead, it is the wicked who will have troubles.

9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbour, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.

Godless people can ruin others by what they say [MTY], but righteous [people will] be saved by [their (own] good sense/being wise).

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.

When things go well for righteous [people], [the people in] [MTY] their city are happy, and they shout joyfully when wicked [people] die.

11 By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

When righteous [people request God to] bless a city, that city will become great, but cities are ruined by what wicked [people] say [MTY].

12 One who despises his neighbour is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

It is foolish to despise others; those who (have good sense/are wise) do not say anything [to criticize others].

13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

Those who (spread gossip/tell bad things about others) will tell your secrets [to others], but if there is someone whom you can trust, you can trust him to not tell your secrets [to others].

14 Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counsellors there is victory.

A nation will be destroyed/ruined if it does not have [leaders] who guide it [wisely]; but if there are many [good] advisors, the nation remains secure.

15 He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

If you promise a stranger that you will pay his debt [if he cannot pay it himself], you will regret it. You will be safe if you refuse to guarantee that you will pay someone else’s debts.

16 A gracious woman obtains honour, but violent men obtain riches.

[People] honor/respect women who are kind/gracious; ruthless/violent people may get a lot of money, [but that is all that they will get].

17 The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Those who are kind benefit themselves [because others will be kind to them], but those who are cruel will hurt themselves [because others will be cruel to them].

18 Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

If wicked people earn a lot of money, that will deceive them [because they will not keep it for very long], but those who do what is right will surely be rewarded [by God forever].

19 He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.

Those who always do what is right will live [a long/happy life], but those who insist on doing what is wrong will not live [very long].

20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

Yahweh hates those who are always thinking about doing evil things, but he is delighted with those who always do what is right.

21 Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

It is certain that [Yahweh] will punish evil people and that righteous people will escape [from being punished].

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

[It is] ([unsuitable/not proper/disgusting]) for a beautiful woman not to know what is right to do, like [SIM] [it is unsuitable/disgusting] for a pig to have a gold ring in its snout/nose.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.

When the things that righteous people want happen, it brings good [to them and to others], but when the wicked get what they want, it causes everyone else to become angry.

24 There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.

Some people give [their money] generously [to poor people], but they become richer [in spite of that], and some people hold tightly to their money, but they still become poor [in spite of that].

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.

Those who give generously [to others] will prosper; if you help others, [they/someone] will help you, too.

26 People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

People curse/despise someone who hoards his grain [and does not sell it], waiting to get a higher/bigger price for it, but they praise someone who sells it [when people need it, even when the price is not high].

27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favour, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.

If you sincerely want to [do what is] right, [people] will respect you, but if you are wanting to cause trouble, trouble is what you will get.

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

Those who trust in their money will [disappear like the] withered [leaves that fall from the trees], but righteous [people] will keep going strong, like green leaves [in the summer].

29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

Those who bring troubles to their families will inherit nothing [MET] [from them], and those who do foolish things [like that] will [some day] become the servants of wise [people].

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.

Those who live righteously will live [for a long time], but [those who act] violently will destroy [their own] lives (OR, those who are wise will have many people come and live with them).

31 Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

[Sometimes] righteous [people] are rewarded [here] on the earth, but it is much more certain that very wicked people [DOU] [will be rewarded by being punished].