Proverbs Chapter 11

¹ Yahveh detests a false balance;

he delights in accurate weights.

                  ²Dishonor follows pride;

            but wisdom lies with the humble.

³ The integrity of the wise gives them direction;

the dishonesty of the treacherous destroys them.

                  ⁴Wealth won’t help you when judgment comes,

            but goodness delivers you from death.

⁵ Goodness smooths the way for the blameless,

but the sinful collapse under the weight of their own sin.

                  ⁶Their goodness delivers the godly,

            their greed snares deceivers.                                      

Prov 11:1-6

⁷ When sinners die, their aspirations die as well;

hope perishes with the godless.

                  ⁸Good people leave trouble behind,

            but sinners head right for it.

⁹ The godless destroy their neighbors with their mouths,

but knowledge lets the righteous escape.

                  ¹⁰A city celebrates when things go well for the godly;

            there’s also happy shouting over the demise of the sinful.

¹¹ The godly are a blessing that builds up a city;

the mouths of sinners tear it down.

                  ¹²Belittling you neighbor doesn’t help anybody;

            be silent and just let it rest.

¹³ Gossips go around telling secrets;

reliable people keep private matters private.

                  ¹⁴Without wise leaders a nation falls;

            victory comes from having many advisors.              

Prov 11:7-14

¹⁵ Standing good for a stranger’s debt

            means you’re likely to pay it;

      avoid guaranteeing it and stay safe.

                  ¹⁶A gracious woman earns respect;

            a violent man just gets rich.

¹⁷ Kindness repays you;

cruelty destroys you.

                  ¹⁸Sinners get rich by deception;

            people that sow goodness make a legitimate living.

¹⁹ Steadfast goodness promotes life;

chasing after evil gets you killed.

                  ²⁰ Yahveh detests the perverse in heart;

            he delights in those blameless in their living.

²¹ Sinful people will certainly suffer for it,

but the children of the just will be rescued.

                  ²²A beautiful woman with no discretion

            is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.                            

Prov 11:15-22

²³ The godly look forward to good things;

the sinful are simply waiting for wrath.

                  ²⁴Give liberally and grow richer;

            withhold what you should give

                  and be in need.

²⁵ The generous prosper;

those who refresh other people will be refreshed.

                  ²⁶People curse the one that hoards grain

            but bless the one that sells it to people that need it.

²⁷ Whoever seeks the good finds favor,

and trouble comes to the one that’s looking for it.

                  ²⁸People that rely on their wealth will fall;   

            but the godly will flourish like green leaves.

Prov 11:23-28

²⁹ Bring trouble on your family,

            and you’ll inherit the wind;

      the foolish serve the wise.

                  ³⁰Good people become a tree of life,

            the wise win friends.

³¹ If the righteous are rewarded on earth,

how much more godless sinners!                                          

Prov 11:29-31