11:11

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

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

11b but 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: There are two ways to interpret the phrase the blessing of the upright :

(1) The upright bless others. For example:

Upright citizens bless a city (New Living Translation (1996))

(2) God blesses the upright. For example:

When God blesses his people (Contemporary English Version)

Most versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, 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 (Good News Translation)
-or-
their city prospers (Contemporary English Version)

11:11b

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 (Good News Translation)

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

but the talk of the wicked tears it apart (New Living Translation (2004))

Such translations, as well as the Berean Standard Bible (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

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