Proverbs 11

1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is 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 cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is 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 profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth 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 perfect shall 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 treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.

[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 dieth, [his] expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth.

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 The righteous is delivered out of trouble; And the wicked cometh in his stead.

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

9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.

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 goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And 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 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

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

13 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

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 no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

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 that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship 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 obtaineth honor; And 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 doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth 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 The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness [hath] 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 that is stedfast in righteousness [shall attain] unto life; And he that pursueth evil [doeth it] to his own 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 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in [their] way 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 [Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

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

22 [As] a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, [So is] a fair woman that is without 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; [But] 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 that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] only to want.

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; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

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

26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth 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 that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto 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 that trusteth in his riches shall 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 that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And 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; And he that is wise winneth 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 recompensed 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].