PROV 11:11 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX στόμασι δὲ ἀσεβῶν κατεσκάφη.
(stomasi de asebōn kateskafaʸ. )

ULT With the blessing of the upright a city is raised up,
⇔ but with the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

UST A city becomes great when people who act uprightly bless the people there,
⇔ but what people who act wickedly say destroys that city.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted,
⇔ but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright,
⇔ but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked.

LSV By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted,
And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.

FBV Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.

T4T ⇔ When righteous people request God to bless a city, that city will become great,
⇔ but cities are ruined by what wicked people say [MTY].

LEB • By the blessing of the upright, a city will be exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked, it will be overthrown.

BBE By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.

Moff A city is exalted by the success of the upright,
⇔ and overthrown by the policy of knaves.
¶ 

JPS By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

ASV By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted;
⇔ But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

DRA By the blessing of the just the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the wicked it shall be overthrown.

YLT By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.

Drby By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

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

SLT By the blessing of the upright the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the unjust it shall be overthrown.

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

KJB-1769 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

KJB-1611 By the blessing of the vpright the citie is exalted; but it is ouerthrowen by the mouth of the wicked.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps In the blessyng of the ryghteous the citie is exalted: but it is ouerthrowen by the mouth of the wicked.
(In the blessing of the righteous the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.)

Gnva By the blessing of the righteous, the citie is exalted: but it is subuerted by the mouth of the wicked.
(By the blessing of the righteous, the city is exalted: but it is subuerted by the mouth of the wicked. )

Cvdl When the iust are in wealth, the cite prospereth: but whan the vngodly haue the rule, it decayeth.
(When the just are in wealth, the cite prospereth: but when the ungodly have the rule, it decayeth.)

Wycl A citee schal be enhaunsid bi blessing of iust men; and it schal be distried bi the mouth of wickid men.
(A city shall be enhanced by blessing of just men; and it shall be destroyed by the mouth of wicked men.)

Luth Durch den Segen der Frommen wird eine Stadt erhaben; aber durch den Mund der GOttlosen wird sie zerbrochen.
(Durch the blessing the/of_the pious/devout_(one) becomes a/one city raised/exalted; but through the mouth the/of_the godless_one(s) becomes they/she/them broken.)

ClVg Benedictione justorum exaltabitur civitas, et ore impiorum subvertetur.
(Welldictione of_the_righteous will_be_exalted city, and vocally of_the_wicked subvertetur. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

11:11

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^11a By the blessing of the upright a city is built up,

^11bbut by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

This proverb contrasts the helpful effect of upright people on a city with the harmful effect of wicked people. Upright people cause a city to prosper. The words of wicked people destroy it.

11:11a

By the blessing of the upright a city is built up,

The lives of people who do what is right benefit/bless their townmates. As a result, the city where they live becomes great/prosperous.
The life of the people in a city greatly improves because of the good words and deeds of those who are righteous/upright.

By the blessing of the upright: There are two ways to interpret the phrase the blessing of the upright:

The upright bless others. For example:
Upright citizens bless a city (NLT96) (NCV, NLT96, GNT)
God blesses the upright. For example:
When God blesses his people (CEV) (CEV)

Most versions, including the BSB, are ambiguous. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most scholars. This interpretation focuses on the benefit that a city experiences from the actions, words, and prosperity of upright people. So it provides a clear contrast with 11:11b. With either interpretation, God is the ultimate source of blessing.

upright: See the notes on 2:7a and 11:3a.

a city is built up: This clause means that it increases in status or prosperity. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

A city becomes great (GNT)

their city prospers (CEV)

11:11b

but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

By contrast, the same city is destroyed/ruined by the words of those who do what is evil/wrong.
But evil people say things that ruin the life of its inhabitants.

but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down: This is a figure of speech. It is similar to 11:9a. Here it means that a city is ruined by what wicked people say. Another way to translate this line is:

but a city is brought to ruin by the words of the wicked (GNT)

Some versions speak of a city being torn down or torn apart. For example:

but the talk of the wicked tears it apart (NLT)

Such translations, as well as the BSB (torn down), do not refer literally to city walls or buildings. They refer instead to the reputation, prosperity, or quality of life within the city. One way to express this meaning is:

but because of the words of evil people, the life of its inhabitants becomes bad

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

בְּ⁠בִרְכַּ֣ת יְ֭שָׁרִים תָּר֣וּם קָ֑רֶת וּ⁠בְ⁠פִ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים תֵּהָרֵֽס

by_[the],blessing_of upright exalted city and,by,the_mouth_of wicked overthrown

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The blessing of the upright raises up a city, but the mouth of the wicked tears down a city”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

בְּ⁠בִרְכַּ֣ת יְ֭שָׁרִים

by_[the],blessing_of upright

Here, the blessing of the upright could refer to: (1) the blessing that the upright give to a city. Alternate translation: “With the blessing given by the upright ones” (2) the blessing that God gives the upright. Alternate translation: “With the blessing that God gives to the upright ones”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

תָּר֣וּם קָ֑רֶת

exalted city

Here Solomon refers to a city becoming great as if it were raised up. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “a city is made great”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וּ⁠בְ⁠פִ֥י

and,by,the_mouth_of

See how you translated the same use of mouth in [10:11](../10/11.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

תֵּהָרֵֽס

overthrown

Here Solomon uses a city being torn down to refer to it being destroyed, which could include tearing down its walls and buildings. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “a city is destroyed”

Parallel PROV 11:11

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

11:11

11:11a

11:11b