11:10

This verse focuses on the contrasting things (bold print) that happen to the righteous and the wicked. Righteous people prosper, but wicked people perish. When these things occur, there are similar consequences in their community (italics). In both cases, people respond with joy.

10a When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices ;

10b and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11:10a

When the righteous thrive: This phrase describes the situation when righteous people thrive, do well, or succeed. Another way to translate this phrase is:

When people who do what is right succeed

the city rejoices: The word city is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents the townmates of the righteous. Another way to translate this figure of speech is:

everyone in the city where they live is happy

11:10b

when the wicked perish: The word perish can mean “are ruined” (for example, materially). But here it probably means “die,” as in several English versions. For example:

When evil people die (New Century Version)

there are shouts of joy: In some languages, it may be more natural to express this as a verb clause. For example:

they shout for joy (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 11:10a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the parallel parts. For example:

When righteous people prosper and the wicked die, all their townmates celebrate and shout with joy.

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