Proverbs 11
1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD; but a perfect 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 faithless 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 sincere shall make straight 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 faithless shall be trapped in their own crafty device.
[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 strength 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 impious man destroyeth his neighbour; 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 joy.
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 a 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 neighbour lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment 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 talebearer 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 direction is, a 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 them that strike hands 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 honour; and strong 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 Stedfast righteousness tendeth to life; but he that pursueth evil pursueth 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 the LORD; but such as are upright 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 My hand upon it! the evil man shall not be unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
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 turneth aside from 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 yet increaseth; 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 beneficent soul shall be made rich, and he that satisfieth abundantly shall be satisfied also himself.
Those who give generously [to others] will prosper; if you help others, [they/someone] will help you, too.
26 He that withholdeth corn, 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 favour; but he that searcheth for 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 foliage.
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 requited 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].
