Proverbs 11
1 Balances of deceit are an abomination of the Lord; but a full weight [obtaineth] his favor.
The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh disgrace; but with the modest there is wisdom.
With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the cunning of the treacherous destroyeth them.
Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.
4 Wealth cannot profit on the day of wrath; but righteousness deliver from death.
Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh even his way; but by his own wickedness will the wicked fall.
The goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them; but through their own sinful desires are the treacherous caught.
The goodness of those who live right will save them, but the dishonest are trapped by their own desires.
7 When a wicked man dieth, [his] hope vanisheth; and the expectation of his children is lost.
When a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.
8 The righteous is delivered out of distress, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.
9 With his mouth doth the hypocrite destroy his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the town rejoiceth loudly: and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but through the mouth of the wicked it is pulled down.
Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.
12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of sense; but a man of understanding maintaineth silence.
People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.
13 He that walketh about as talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.
14 Where there is no wise guidance, a people must fall: but [it will obtain] help through the multitude of counsellors.
A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.
15 With evil will he be overwhelmed that is surety for a stranger: but he that hateth giving the hand as pledge is safe.
You'll get into trouble if you guarantee a stranger's loans—you're far safer if you refuse to make such pledges.
16 A woman endowed with grace will surely obtain honor; and the powerful will obtain riches.
A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.
17 The man of kindness doth good to his own soul; but he that troubleth his own flesh is cruel.
If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.
18 The wicked practiseth a work of falsehood; but he that soweth righteousness [obtaineth] the reward of truth.
The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.
19 He who is firm in righteousness attaineth to life: and he that pursueth evil [doth it] to his own death.
Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.
20 An abomination of the Lord are those of a perverse heart; but his favor is for those who are unblemished in their way.
The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.
21 The hand [of God] being against [his] hand, the bad man shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.
22 As a golden ring in a swine's snout, so is a handsome woman that hath thrown off discretion.
A beautiful woman who lacks good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the hope of the wicked is the wrath [of God].
Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.
24 There is a man that scattereth gifts, and yet his wealth is increased: and there is one that withholdeth more than is proper, and still cometh only to want.
If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.
25 A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified; and he that refresheth [others] will be also refreshed himself.
If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.
26 Him that withholdeth corn, the people will denounce; but blessing will be heaped upon the head of the one that selleth it.
People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.
27 He that diligently searcheth after good seeketh favor; but if one inquireth after evil, it will come unto him.
If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find it!
28 He that trusteth in his riches will surely fall; but the righteous shall grow like the leaves [of a tree].
If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.
29 He that troubleth his own house will inherit the wind; and the fool will become the servant to the wise of heart.
If you cause trouble in your family, you'll inherit nothing but air. Stupid people end up as servants to those who think wisely.
30 The fruit of the righteous is of the tree of life, and the wise draweth souls to himself.
The fruit of the good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people.
31 Behold, the righteous is recompensed on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner.
If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!
