Proverbs 11

1 False scales are 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 disgrace; But with the humble 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 do not profit 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 good man maketh his way plain; But the wicked falleth through his 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 delivereth them; But transgressors are ensnared in their own mischief.

[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 the wicked man dieth, his hope cometh to an end; Yea, the expectation of the unjust cometh to an end.

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 man is delivered from trouble, And the wicked cometh into it in his stead.

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

9 By his mouth the vile man destroyeth his neighbor; But by the knowledge of the righteous are men 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 who despiseth his neighbor is void of understanding; 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 who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he who 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 there is no counsel, the people fall; But in a 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 another shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship 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 graceful woman obtaineth honor, Even as 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 He that doeth good to himself is a man of kindness; But he that tormenteth his own flesh is cruel.

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 toileth for deceitful wages; But he who soweth righteousness shall have 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 who pursueth evil pursueth it to his 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 The perverse in heart are the abomination of the LORD; But the 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 From generation to generation the wicked shall not go unpunished; But the posterity 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 beautiful woman who 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 right, yet he cometh 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 bountiful man shall be enriched, And he that watereth shall himself be watered.

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

26 Him that keepeth back corn the people curse; 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, who earnestly seeketh good, seeketh favor; But he that seeketh mischief, it shall come upon 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 who trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as a leaf.

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 harasseth his household shall inherit wind; And the fool shall be the servant of the wise.

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 a righteous man is a tree of life; And the wise man 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 man is requited on the earth; Much more the wicked man 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].