Proverbs 11

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

1The LORD hates scales that cheat people. Honest weights make him glad.

NoteA balance was a scale for weighing food or metal in a market. A false balance was rigged to cheat the buyer.

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

2When a person acts proud, shame comes next. Humble people are wise.

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

3Honest people are led safely by their honesty. Crooked people are ruined by their own crooked ways.

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

4Money will not help on the day God punishes. Doing what is right saves a person from death.

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

5A person who does no wrong is kept on a straight path. Wicked people fall because of their own wrong.

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

6Doing right rescues honest people. People who break the rules get caught by their own wrong wishes.

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

7When a wicked man dies, everything he hoped for dies too. All his strong plans come to nothing.

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

8A good person is pulled out of trouble. The wicked person goes into it instead.

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

9A person who fakes being good ruins his neighbor with his words. Knowing what is true rescues good people.

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

10When good people do well, the whole town is glad. When wicked people are gone, people shout for joy.

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

11Honest people bring a blessing that builds a town up. Wicked words tear a town down.

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

12A person who makes fun of his neighbor has no sense. A person who understands stays quiet.

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

13A person who spreads stories tells secrets. A person you can trust keeps a secret safe.

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

14When no one gives good advice, people fall. Many good advisers keep people safe.

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

15Promising to pay a stranger's debt will hurt you. Staying away from such promises keeps you safe.

Note"Surety" means promising to pay someone else's debt if that person cannot pay. "Smart for it" means suffer for it.

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

16A kind woman is honored by others. Cruel men get money and nothing more.

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

17A kind person is doing himself good. A mean person is only hurting himself.

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

18A wicked person works hard for pay that is empty. A person who plants what is right gets a real reward.

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

19Really doing what is right leads to life. Chasing after evil leads to death.

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

20The LORD hates hearts that are twisted. He is glad with people who live honestly.

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

21You can be sure of this: wicked people will be punished. The children of good people will get away safe.

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

22A gold ring looks silly in a pig's nose. A pretty woman with no good sense is like that.

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

23What good people want leads only to good. What wicked people hope for brings anger.

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

24One person gives freely and ends up with more. Another keeps back what he should give and grows poor.

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

25A person who gives a lot will do well. A person who helps others will be helped too.

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

26People say bad things about a man who hides his grain. They bless the man who sells it.

Note"Corn" in 1611 English meant grain of any kind, like wheat or barley, not the yellow corn we eat today.

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

27A person who looks hard for good is treated kindly. A person who looks for trouble will find it.

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

28A person who trusts his money will fall. Good people grow strong, like green leaves on a branch.

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

29A man who makes trouble at home ends up with nothing but wind. A foolish person becomes the servant of a wise one.

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

30What a good person grows is like a tree that gives life. Whoever wins people over is wise.

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

31Look: good people get what is coming to them here on earth. So wicked people and sinners surely will too.