Proverbs 11
1 A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just weight is his will.
A false balance is an abomination to YHWH, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is, there also is wisdom.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The simplicity of the just shall guide them: and the deceitfulness of the wicked shall destroy them.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall deliver from death.
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous: and the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust shall be caught in their own snares.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more: and the expectation of the solicitous shall perish.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 The just is delivered out of distress: and the wicked shall be given up for him.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9 The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 When it goeth well with the just the city shall rejoice: and when the wicked perish there shall be praise.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the just the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the wicked it shall be overthrown.
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that despiseth his friend, is mean of heart: but the wise man will hold his peace.
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 He that walketh deceitfully, revealeth secrets: but he that is faithful, concealeth the thing committed to him by his friend.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is safety where there is much counsel.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 He shall be afflicted with evil, that is surety for a stranger: but he that is aware of the snares, shall be secure.
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 A gracious woman shall find glory: and the strong shall have riches.
A gracious woman obtains honor, but she who hates virtue makes a throne for dishonor. The slothful become destitute, and ruthless men grab wealth.
17 A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel casteth off even his own kindred.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth justice, there is a faithful reward.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things, death.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in them that walk sincerely.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to YHWH, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Hand in hand the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of the just shall be saved.
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.
22 A golden ring in a swine’s snout, a woman fair and foolish.
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the just is all good: the expectation of the wicked is indignation.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take away what is not their own, and are always in want.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 The soul which blesseth, shall be made fat: and he that inebriateth, shall be inebriated also himself.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 He that hideth up corn, shall be cursed among the people: but a blessing upon the head of them that sell.
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 Well doth he rise early who seeketh good things; but he that seeketh after evil things shall be oppressed by them.
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up as a green leaf.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds: and the fool shall serve the wise.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the just man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth souls, is wise.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he who plucks that life is wise.
31 If the just man receive in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner.
If the righteous is delivered with difficulty, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?
