Proverbs 11

1 False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him.

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

2 Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.

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

3 When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.

[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 [Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver 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 Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.

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 upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.

[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 At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.

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 man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.

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

9 In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.

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

10 In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.

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

11 [At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]

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 A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

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

13 A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.

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 They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel 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 A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.

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 wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonor. The slothful come to lack: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.

[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 A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.

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 An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.

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 A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in 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 Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.

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

21 He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.

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

22 As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.

[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 All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

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 are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.

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 Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.

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

26 May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [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 devises good [counsels] seeks good favor: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake 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 trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.

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 deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.

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 Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.

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 If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

[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].