11:27

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

27a
He who searches out good finds favor,

27b but evil will come to him who seeks it.

The Berean Standard Bible has arranged the parallel parts in the form of a chiasm in order to emphasize the contrast between goodwill and evil. There is no chiasm in this verse in Hebrew, and many English versions follow the Hebrew word order. For example:

The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil—it will come to him. (NET Bible)

Arrange the parallel parts in a natural way in your language.

11:27a–b

searches out good finds favor…seeks it: The verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as searches out, finds, and seeks are all synonyms in Hebrew. All basically mean to search for something. They imply that a person searches for something in order to find or obtain it.

The idea of finding or obtaining favor provides a good parallel with “evil comes to him” in 11:27b. This may be why the Berean Standard Bible and some other versions focus on the aspect of finding rather than searching. For example:

Someone who seeks what is good wins much favour (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Whoever strives for good obtains favour (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
If you search for good, you will find favor (New Living Translation (2004))

The first and last of the three synonyms have a more intensive meaning. They have the connotation of searching diligently or carefully. (See the notes on 1:28b and 8:17a–b, where the first verb also occurs.)

searches out: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as searches out probably means to be diligent in doing what is good for others. Some other ways to translate this verb are:

diligently seeks (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
eagerly seeks (God’s Word)

However, in some languages, a verb that means “seek” implies that something was lost. So another way to translate this is:

Try hard to do right (Contemporary English Version)

11:27a

finds favor: The person who diligently tries to do what will benefit others obtains favor, goodwill, or kindness. Some versions specify that this favor is the favor that is granted by other people. For example:

you will win friends (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you will be respected (Good News Translation)

However, most versions do not specify whether this refers to the LORD’s favor or people’s favor. Most scholars think that this phrase is talking about either the LORD’s favor or the favor of both the LORD and people. So it is recommended that you leave the reference unspecified. If that is not possible, then it is recommended that you specify both the LORD and people. For example:

A person who diligently tries to do good to others will gain the approval of both the LORD and other people.

11:27b

but evil will come to him who seeks it: This line means that a person who deliberately or energetically tries to cause evil or harm to someone else will experience it himself.

seeks it: Some versions translate this phrase as:

looking for trouble (Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation)

However, that expression may mean “plans to get into mischief” or “tries to start a fight.” This line should refer to causing harm or evil to other people. That provides a clear contrast to causing benefit to other people in 11:27a.

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