Proverbs 11
1 Balances of deceit are an abomination of the Lord; but a full weight [obtaineth] his favor.
Yahweh hates scales that are not accurate, but he delights in a precise weight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh disgrace; but with the modest there is wisdom.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the cunning of the treacherous destroyeth them.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crooked ways of the treacherous destroy them.
4 Wealth cannot profit on the day of wrath; but righteousness deliver from death.
Wealth is worthless on the day of wrath, but doing right keeps you from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh even his way; but by his own wickedness will the wicked fall.
The right conduct of a blameless person makes his way straight, but the wicked will fall because of their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them; but through their own sinful desires are the treacherous caught.
The right conduct of those who please God keeps them safe, but the treacherous are trapped by their cravings.
7 When a wicked man dieth, [his] hope vanisheth; and the expectation of his children is lost.
When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes and the hope that was in his strength comes to nothing.
8 The righteous is delivered out of distress, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
The righteous person is kept away from trouble and it comes upon the wicked instead.
9 With his mouth doth the hypocrite destroy his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
With his mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge righteous people are kept safe.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the town rejoiceth loudly: and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
When righteous people prosper, a city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but through the mouth of the wicked it is pulled down.
Through the good gifts of those who please God, the city becomes great; by the mouth of the wicked, the city is torn down.
12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of sense; but a man of understanding maintaineth silence.
The man who has contempt for his friend has no sense, but a man of understanding keeps quiet.
13 He that walketh about as talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Whoever goes around slandering reveals secrets, but a faithful person keeps a matter covered.
14 Where there is no wise guidance, a people must fall: but [it will obtain] help through the multitude of counsellors.
Where there is no wise direction, a nation falls, but victory comes by consulting many advisors.
15 With evil will he be overwhelmed that is surety for a stranger: but he that hateth giving the hand as pledge is safe.
Whoever guarantees a loan for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but the one who hates giving a pledge in that kind of promise is safe.
16 A woman endowed with grace will surely obtain honor; and the powerful will obtain riches.
A gracious woman gets honor, but ruthless people grasp for wealth.
17 The man of kindness doth good to his own soul; but he that troubleth his own flesh is cruel.
A kind person benefits himself, but one who is cruel hurts himself.
18 The wicked practiseth a work of falsehood; but he that soweth righteousness [obtaineth] the reward of truth.
The wicked person lies to get his wages, but one who sows what is right reaps the wages of truth.
19 He who is firm in righteousness attaineth to life: and he that pursueth evil [doth it] to his own death.
An honest person who does what is right will live, but the one who pursues evil 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.
Yahweh hates those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 The hand [of God] being against [his] hand, the bad man shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
Be sure of this—the wicked person will not go unpunished, but the descendants of righteous people will be kept safe.
22 As a golden ring in a swine's snout, so is a handsome woman that hath thrown off discretion.
Like a gold ring in a pig's nose is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the hope of the wicked is the wrath [of God].
The desires of righteous people result in good, but wicked people can only hope for wrath.
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.
There is one who scatters—he will accumulate even more; another withholds what he should give—he comes to poverty.
25 A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified; and he that refresheth [others] will be also refreshed himself.
The generous person will prosper and the one who gives water to others will have water for himself.
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 the man who refuses to sell grain, but good gifts crown the head of him who sells it.
27 He that diligently searcheth after good seeketh favor; but if one inquireth after evil, it will come unto him.
The one who diligently seeks good is also seeking favor, but the one who searches for evil will find it.
28 He that trusteth in his riches will surely fall; but the righteous shall grow like the leaves [of a tree].
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but like the leaf, righteous people will flourish.
29 He that troubleth his own house will inherit the wind; and the fool will become the servant to the wise of heart.
The one who brings trouble on his own household will inherit the wind and the fool will become a servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is of the tree of life, and the wise draweth souls to himself.
The righteous person will be like a tree of life, but violence takes away lives.
31 Behold, the righteous is recompensed on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner.
Behold! The righteous person receives what he deserves; how much more the wicked and the sinner!
