Proverbs 11

Wycliffe Bible

11 A guileful balance is abomination with God; and an even weight is his will. (A deceitful scale is an abomination to God; and equal, or honest, weights be his desire.)

² Where pride is, there also despising shall be; but where meekness is, there also is wisdom. (Where there is pride, there shall also be despising; but where there is humility, there is also wisdom.)

³ The simpleness of just men shall (ad)dress them; and the deceiving of wayward men shall destroy them. (The honesty, or the integrity, of the righteous shall direct them; and the deceptions of the wayward shall destroy them.)

⁴ Riches shall not profit in the day of vengeance; but rightfulness shall deliver from death. (Riches shall not profit anyone on the day of vengeance; but uprightness shall deliver one from death.)

⁵ The rightfulness of a simple man shall (ad)dress his way; and a wicked man shall fall in his wickedness. (The uprightness of an honest person shall direct his way; and a wicked person shall fall because of his wickedness.)

⁶ The rightfulness of rightful men shall deliver them; and wicked men shall be taken in their ambushings. (The uprightness of the righteous shall save them; but the wicked shall be caught in their own ambushings.)

⁷ When a wicked man is dead, none hope shall be further of him; and [the] abiding of busy men in evil shall perish. (When the wicked die, they shall have no further hope; and the abundance, or the wealth, of those busy with evil shall perish.)

⁸ A just man is delivered from anguish; and a wicked man shall be given for him. (The righteous person is delivered from all his anguish; and it is given to a wicked person instead.)

⁹ A feigner by mouth deceiveth his friend; but just men shall be delivered by knowing. (A faker, or a hypocrite, deceiveth his friend with his mouth; but the righteous rescue others with their wisdom.)

¹⁰ A city shall be enhanced in the goods of just men; and praising shall be in the perdition of wicked men. (A city shall rejoice for the prosperity of the righteous; and praising shall be in the perdition, or in the perishing, of the wicked.)

¹¹ A city shall be enhanced by [the] blessing of just men; and it shall be destroyed by the mouth of wicked men. (A city shall be enhanced by the blessing of the righteous; and it shall be destroyed by the words of the wicked.)

¹² He that despiseth his friend, is needy in heart; but a prudent man shall be still. (He who despiseth his friend is foolish; but a man of understanding shall be silent.)

¹³ He that goeth guilefully, showeth privates (He who goeth deceitfully, telleth secrets); but he that is faithful, covereth the private (matter) of a friend.

¹⁴ Where a governor is not, the people shall fall; but health is, where be many counsels. (Without a leader, or good governance, the people shall fall; but there is victory/but there is salvation, or deliverance, where there be many counsellors, or much planning, or good advice.)

¹⁵ He that maketh faith, that is, (an) obligation, for a stranger, shall be tormented with evil; but he that escheweth snares, shall be secure.

¹⁶ A gracious woman shall find glory (A gracious woman shall receive honour); and strong men shall have riches.

¹⁷ A merciful man doeth well to his soul (A merciful person doeth good to his own soul); but he that is cruel, casteth away, yea, (even his own) kinsmen.

¹⁸ A wicked man maketh unstable work; but faithful meed is to him, that soweth rightfulness. (There is no surety with the work of the wicked; but there is a sure reward for those who sow goodness.)

¹⁹ Mercy shall make ready life; and the following of evil, death. (Mercy bringeth forth life; but death followeth after evil.)

²⁰ A shrewd heart is abominable to the Lord; and his will is in them, that go simply. (A depraved heart is abominable to the Lord; but his delight is in those who do things honestly, or with integrity.)

²¹ Though hand be in hand, an evil man shall not be innocent; but the seed of just men shall be saved. (Be assured, that the evil shall be punished; but the children, or the descendants, of the righteous shall be saved.)

²² A golden ring in the nostrils of a sow, (is like) a woman fair and fool. (A gold ring in the nostrils of a pig, is like a woman who is comely, but foolish.)

²³ The desire of just men is all good; (but the) abiding of wicked men is strong vengeance. (The desire of the righteous is only for good; but the longing of the wicked is for strong vengeance.)

²⁴ Some men part their own things, and be made richer; other men ravish things, that be not theirs, and they be ever in neediness. (Some people share their own things, and grow richer; other people steal things, that be not theirs, and still they always be in need.)

²⁵ A soul that blesseth, shall be made fat; and he that filleth, shall be filled also. (A person who blesseth, or who shareth, shall be made prosperous; and he who filleth, shall also be filled.)

²⁶ He that hideth wheat, shall be cursed among the peoples; but blessing shall come [up]on the head(s) of sellers. (He who hideth corn, shall be cursed by the people; but blessing, or praise, shall come to the sellers.)

²⁷ Well (be) he (who) riseth early, that seeketh good things; but he that is a searcher of evils, shall be oppressed of those. (He who riseth early, to seek out the good, shall find favour; but he who searcheth out evils, shall be oppressed by them.)

²⁸ He that trusteth in his riches, shall fall; but just men shall burgeon as a green leaf (but the righteous shall flourish like the green leaves).

²⁹ He that troubleth his house, shall have (the) winds in possession; and he that is a fool, shall serve a wise man.

³⁰ The fruit of a rightful man is the tree of life; and he that taketh souls, is a wise man. (The fruit of righteousness is the tree of life; and he who winneth souls, is wise.)

³¹ If a just man receiveth in [the] earth, how much more an unfaithful man, and a sinner. (If the righteous receive recompense here on earth, how much more shall the unfaithful, and the sinners!)