Translation commentary on Proverbs 11:11

“By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted”: The preferred understanding of “blessing” is the benefit bestowed on the city by the “upright” person. Others take the view that by God giving “blessing” to the upright, the city benefits. In either case the “blessing” comes from God, but in the former interpretation the emphasis is upon the action of the upright person. “Blessing” may be understood here as words or deeds, or as prosperity. “Exalted” means elevated in rank or power, and so to be praised or made great. Good News Translation says “A city becomes great when. . ..” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders this line “Blessings come through the upright and build up the city.”

“But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked”: This line contrasts with the first in that what the wicked person says prevents the city, that is, the people of the city, from being blessed. Moreover, they are “overthrown”, that is to say “they are destroyed or ruined.”

We may translate this verse, for example, “God’s gifts to the upright person make a city great, but the speech of the wicked brings about its ruin.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 11:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 11:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “The nation/community is exalted/raised through the blessings of righteous people,
    but it is destroyed by words spoken by wicked people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A city rises through the blessing
    of the righteous,
    but it will be ruined by the mouths
    of the wicked.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A city prospers through the blessing of the righteous, but it is-destroyed by the saying-of-something-bad of the wicked.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The city is praised because of the blessing of the righteous/just, but it is destroyed because of the words of one who is doing evil.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “When righteous people request God to bless a city, that city will become great,
    but cities are ruined by what wicked people say.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 11:11

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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