< Proverbs 11 >
1 A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD: 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 transgressors 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 transgressors shall be taken in [their own] naughtiness.
[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 unjust [men] 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 An hypocrite with [his] mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just 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 is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: 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 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the 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 counsel [is], the people fall: 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: ] and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
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 retaineth honour: and strong [men] retain 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 worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness [shall be] 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 As righteousness [tendeth] to life: so 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 of a froward heart [are] 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 [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked 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 jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, [so is] a fair woman which 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 yet increaseth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] to 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: 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 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 procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, 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 a branch.
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 fool [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 winneth souls [is] wise.
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: 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].