Proverbs, 11

1. A false balance is abhorrent to Yahweh, a just weight is pleasing to him.

1. A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is] his delight.

2. Pride comes first; disgrace soon follows; with the humble is wisdom found.

2. [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.

3. The honest have their own honesty for guidance, the treacherous are ruined by their own perfidy.

3. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

4. In the day of retribution riches will be useless, but uprightness delivers from death.

4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

5. The uprightness of the good makes their way straight, the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

6. Their uprightness sets the honest free, the treacherous are imprisoned by their own desires.

6. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in [their own] naughtiness.

7. The hope of the wicked perishes with death, hope placed in riches comes to nothing.

7. When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust [men] perisheth.

8. The upright escapes affliction, the wicked incurs it instead.

8. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

9. Through his mouth the godless is the ruin of his neighbour, but by knowledge the upright are safeguarded.

9. An hypocrite with [his] mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

10. When the upright prosper the city rejoices, when the wicked are ruined there is a shout of joy.

10. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, [there is] shouting.

11. A city is raised on the blessing of the honest, and demolished by the mouth of the wicked.

11. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12. Whoever looks down on a neighbour lacks good sense; the intelligent keeps a check on the tongue.

12. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13. A tittle-tattler lets secrets out, the trustworthy keeps things hidden.

13. A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

14. For want of leadership a people perishes, safety lies in many advisers.

14. Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.

15. Whoever goes bail for a stranger does himself harm, but one who shuns going surety is safe.

15. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart [for it]: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

16. A gracious woman acquires honour, violent people acquire wealth.

16. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong [men] retain riches.

17. Faithful love brings its own reward, the inflexible injure their own selves.

17. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but [he that is] cruel troubleth his own flesh.

18. Disappointment crowns the labours of the wicked, whoever sows uprightness reaps a solid reward.

18. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness [shall be] a sure reward.

19. Whoever establishes uprightness is on the way to life, whoever pursues evil, on the way to death.

19. As righteousness [tendeth] to life: so he that pursueth evil [pursueth it] to his own death.

20. Tortuous hearts are abhorrent to Yahweh, dear to him, those whose ways are blameless.

20. They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the LORD: but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight.

21. Be sure of it, the wicked will not go unpunished, but the race of the upright will come to no harm.

21. [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22. A golden ring in the snout of a pig is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

22. [As] a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, [so is] a fair woman which is without discretion.

23. The hope of the upright is nothing but good, the expectation of the wicked is retribution.

23. The desire of the righteous [is] only good: [but] the expectation of the wicked [is] wrath.

24. One scatters money around, yet only adds to his wealth, another is excessively mean, but only grows the poorer.

24. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] to poverty.

25. The soul who blesses will prosper, whoever satisfies others will also be satisfied.

25. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26. The people's curse is on those who hoard the wheat, their blessing on the head of those who sell it.

26. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing [shall be] upon the head of him that selleth [it].

27. Whoever strives for good obtains favour, whoever looks for evil will get an evil return.

27. He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

28. Whoever trusts in riches will have a fall, the upright will flourish like the leaves.

28. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

29. Whoever misgoverns a house inherits the wind, and the fool becomes slave to the wise.

29. He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool [shall be] servant to the wise of heart.

30. The fruit of the upright is a tree of life: the sage captivates souls.

30. The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.

31. If here on earth the upright gets due reward, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

31. Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.