PROV 16:11 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

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

Key: green:YHWH.
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 Ῥοπὴ ζυγοῦ δικαιοσύνη παρὰ Κυρίῳ, τὰ δὲ ἔργα αὐτοῦ στάθμια δίκαια.
(Ɽopaʸ zugou dikaiosunaʸ para Kuriōi, ta de erga autou stathmia dikaia. )

BrTr The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.

ULT A scale with the two balances of justice belong to Yahweh;
⇔ all the stones of the bag are his work.

UST Yahweh made accurate weighing instruments for us to use honestly.
⇔ Indeed, he made all the stones in the weighing bag so that we would use them honestly.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s;
⇔ all the weights in the bag are his work.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Honest scales and balances are from the Lord;
⇔ all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.

LSV A just beam and balances [are] YHWH’s,
All the stones of the bag [are] His work.

FBV Accurate scales and balances are important to the Lord. He has determined all the weights in the bag.

T4T ⇔ Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct;
⇔ the weights in his bag are correct, because he made them.

LEB • A balance and scales of justice belong to Yahweh; all the weights of the bag are his work.

BBE True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

Moff Balances and scales are controlled by the king,
⇔ weights and measures are his concern.

JPS A just balance and scales are the LORD'S; all the weights of the bag are His work.

ASV A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s;
⇔ All the weights of the bag are his work.

DRA Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.

YLT A just beam and balances [are] Jehovah's, His work [are] all the stones of the bag.

Drby The just balance and scales are Jehovah's; all the weights of the bag are his work.

RV A just balance and scales are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

SLT Weighing and balances of judgment are to Jehovah, and his work all the stones of the bag.

Wbstr A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

KJB-1769 A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.[fn]

16.11 the weights: Heb. the stones

KJB-1611 [fn]A iust weight and ballance are the LORDs: all the weights of the bagge are his worke.
(A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.)

16:11 Heb. all the stones.

Bshps A true wayght and ballaunce are the Lordes iudgement: all the wayghtes of the bagge are his worke.
(A true weight and balance are the Lords judgement: all the weights of the bag are his work.)

Gnva A true weight and balance are of the Lord: all the weightes of the bagge are his worke.
(A true weight and balance are of the Lord: all the weights of the bag are his work. )

Cvdl A true measure & a true balauce are ye LORDES, he maketh all weightes.
(A true measure and a true balauce are ye/you_all LORDS, he maketh/makes all weights.)

Wycl The domes of the Lord ben weiyte and a balaunce; and hise werkis ben alle the stoonys of the world.
(The judgements of the Lord been weight and a balance; and his works been all the stones of the world.)

Luth Rechte Waage und Gewicht ist vom HErr’s; und alle Pfunde im Sack sind seine Werke.
(law/right scale and Gewicht is from_the LORD’s; and all Pfunde in_the sack/bag are his work.)

ClVg Pondus et statera judicia Domini sunt, et opera ejus omnes lapides sacculi.
(Pondus and balance(n)/scales judgements Master are, and works his everyone stones sacculi. )

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

16:11

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^11a Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;

^11b all the weights in the bag are His concern.

In Hebrew, the parallel lines are arranged in the form of a chiasm. The phrase “from the LORD” occurs at the end of 16:11a. The parallel part “His concern” occurs at the beginning of 16:11b.

^11b of his making are all the weights in the bag.

The chiastic order in the Hebrew may focus attention here on the LORD as the ultimate source of accurate weighing devices. You will need to decide if a chiasm will effectively accomplish this purpose in your language.

16:11a

Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;

Yahweh is the one who originated the idea of accurate/fair scales.
Yahweh wants people to use scales whose kilos/pounds are accurate.

16:11b

all the weights in the bag are His concern.

He is the one who caused people to make the means to weigh/measure things that are sold.
In fact, he desires that whatever they sell be measured out fairly.

16:11a–b

Honest scales and balances…all the weights in the bag: These items function together in the parallel lines to represent all kinds of weights and measures.

Honest scales and balances: This phrase refers to Honest, just or accurate scales and balances. They are the opposite of “dishonest” scales in 11:1a and 20:23b (see the notes there). The words scales and balances both refer to a weighing device that had two pans suspended from a bar.

all the weights in the bag: weights (literally “stones”) that weighed a known amount were placed in one pan. The objects to be weighed were placed in the other pan. A merchant normally carried with him a bag containing all the weights needed for measuring the merchandise.NIDOTTE (H4404).

Some ways to translate these terms are:

Use the names of local weighing and measuring devices.
Use a general descriptive phrase. For example:
weights and measures (GNT)
balances and scales (NJB)

are from the LORD…are His concern: These parallel phrases are more literally “belong to the Lord” (GW) and “are his work” (ESV).

Accurate measures and weights are from the LORD (“belong to the LORD”) in the sense that the LORD originated the idea that people should conduct business honestly. The weights are His concern (“his work”) in the sense that he causes people to make them.

These lines imply that the LORD wants people to use weights and measures to conduct business properly and fairly. Some versions make this implied meaning explicit. For example:

The Lord wants weights and measures to be honest and every sale to be fair. (GNT)

The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness. (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

פֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּ⁠מֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭שְׁפָּט לַֽ⁠יהוָ֑ה מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗⁠הוּ כָּל־אַבְנֵי־כִֽיס

scales and,balances_of honest to/for=YHWH work_of,[are]_his all/each/any/every weights_of bag

The implication of the references to a balance, scales, and stones in this verse is that God wants people to be honest when selling or buying things. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “A balance and scales of justice are for Yahweh; all the stones of the bag are his work, so be honest”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

פֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּ⁠מֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭שְׁפָּט לַֽ⁠יהוָ֑ה מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗⁠הוּ כָּל־אַבְנֵי־כִֽיס

scales and,balances_of honest to/for=YHWH work_of,[are]_his all/each/any/every weights_of bag

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second clause emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the clauses with a word that shows that the second clause is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “A balance and scales of justice are for Yahweh; yes, all the stones of the bag are his work”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

פֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּ⁠מֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭שְׁפָּט

scales and,balances_of honest

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a balance and scales that are characterized by justice. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “A just balance and scales”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

פֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּ⁠מֹאזְנֵ֣י

scales and,balances_of

Both of the terms balance and scales refer to instruments that are used for determining the weight of an object or comparing the weight of two objects. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could use a single phrase. See how you translated scales in [11:1](../11/01.md). Alternate translation: “Instruments for measuring weight of”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לַֽ⁠יהוָ֑ה מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗⁠הוּ

to/for=YHWH work_of,[are]_his

In this verse, the phrases are for Yahweh and are his work indicate that accurate weighing instruments belong to Yahweh in that the idea of honest weighing instruments originated with him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “come from Yahweh … are his design” or “originated with Yahweh … are designed by him”

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

כָּל־אַבְנֵי־כִֽיס

all/each/any/every weights_of bag

The phrase stones of the bag refers to the weights that were placed on the scales in order to determine the weight of an object. These stones were carried by merchants in a bag. The scales consisted of a central post with a crossbar from which two pans were hung. An object would be placed in one pan and these stones that had specific weights were placed in the other pan until the crossbar remained level, meaning that both pans contain an equal weight. If your readers would not be familiar with this method of determining weight, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “all the weights” or “all the stones used for determining weight”

Parallel PROV 16:11

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

16:11

16:11a

16:11b

16:11a–b