Proverbs 11:1 King James Version (KJV)

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


Proverbs 11:1 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 A false H4820 balance H3976 is abomination H8441 to the LORD: H3068 but a just H8003 weight H68 is his delight. H7522


Proverbs 11:1 American Standard (ASV)

1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight.


Proverbs 11:1 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Balances of deceit `are' an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight `is' His delight.


Proverbs 11:1 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; but a just weight is his delight.


Proverbs 11:1 World English Bible (WEB)

1 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, But accurate weights are his delight.


Proverbs 11:1 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.

Cross Reference

Deuteronomy 25:13-16 KJV

Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Leviticus 19:35-36 KJV

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 45:10-12 KJV

Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer. And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.

Amos 8:5-6 KJV

Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

Micah 6:10-11 KJV

Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

Commentary on Proverbs 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 11

Pr 11:1-31.

1. (Compare Margin). The Hebrews used stones for weights.

just—complete in measure.

2. Self-conceit is unteachable; the humble grow wise (compare Pr 16:18; 18:12).

3. guide—to lead, as a shepherd (Pr 6:7; Ps 78:52).

perverseness—ill-nature.

destroy—with violence.

4. (Compare Pr 10:2).

wrath—that is, of God.

5. direct—or, "make plain"; wicked ways are not plain (Pr 13:17).

6. deliver them—that is, from evil, which the wicked suffer by their own doings (Pr 5:22; Ps 9:16).

7. expectation … perish—for death cuts short all his plans (Lu 16:25).

hope of unjust—better, "hope of wealth," or "power" (compare Isa 40:29, Hebrew). This gives an advance on the sentiment of the first clause. Even hopes of gain die with him.

8. Perhaps the trouble prepared by the wicked, and which he inherits (compare Pr 11:6).

9. (Compare Ps 35:16; Da 11:32). The just is saved by superior discernment.

10, 11. The last may be a reason for the first. Together, they set forth the relative moral worth of good and bad men.

11. By the blessing—implying active benevolence.

12. despiseth—or, "reviles," a course contrasted with the prudent silence of the wise.

holdeth his peace—as if neither hearing nor telling.

13. tale-bearer—(Compare Margin), one trading as a peddler in scandal, whose propensity to talk leads him to betray confidence.

14. counsel—the art of governing (Pr 1:5).

counsellors—literally, "one giving counsel"; the participle used as a collective.

15. (Compare Pr 6:1).

suretiship—(Compare Margin), the actors put for the action, which may be lawfully hated.

16. retaineth—or literally, "lay hold of as a support." Honor is to a feeble woman thus as valuable as riches to men.

17. merciful—kind to others; opposed to cruel. Such benefit themselves by doing good to others (compare Pr 24:5), while the cruel injure themselves as well as others.

flesh—that is, his body, by penuriousness (Col 2:23).

18. a deceitful work—or, "wages," which fail to satisfy, or flee away (Pr 10:2; 23:5).

sure reward—or, "gain," as from trading (Ho 10:12; Ga 6:8, 9).

19. Inference from Pr 11:18 (compare Pr 11:5, 6; 10:16).

20. (Compare Pr 11:5).

froward—as in Pr 2:15, opposed to the simplicity and purity of the upright.

in their way—or, "conduct."

21. The combined power of the wicked cannot free them from just punishment, while the unaided children of the righteous find deliverance by reason of their pious relationship (Ps 37:25, 26).

22. Jewels were often suspended from the nose (Ge 24:47; Isa 3:21). Thus adorned, a hog disgusts less than a fair and indiscreet woman.

23. (Compare Pr 10:28).

wrath—is that of God.

24-31. The scope of the whole is a comment on Pr 11:23. Thus liberality, by God's blessing, secures increase, while penuriousness, instead of expected gain, procures poverty.

25. liberal soul—(Compare Margin).

made fat—prospers (Pr 28:25; De 32:15; Lu 6:38).

watereth … watered—a common figure for blessing.

26. Another example of the truth of Pr 11:23; the miser loses reputation, though he saves corn.

selleth it—that is, at a fair price.

27. good [and] mischief—that is, of others.

procureth … seeketh—implying success.

28. (Compare Pr 10:15; Ps 49:6; 1Ti 6:17).

righteous … branch—(Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8).

29. troubleth—as Pr 15:27 explains, by greediness for gain (compare Pr 11:17).

inherit … wind—Even successful, his gains are of no real value. So the fool, thus acting, either comes to poverty, or heaps up for others.

30. a tree of life—Blessings to others proceed from the works of the righteous (Pr 3:18).

winneth souls—(Compare Margin) to do them good as opposed to Pr 6:25; Eze 13:18 (compare Lu 5:10).

31. Behold—Thus calling attention to the illustrations (compare Pr 11:23), the sentiment of which is confirmed even in time, not excluding future rewards and punishments.