6:11a–b
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
11a
Can I excuse dishonest scales
11b or bags of false weights?
There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 6:11b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 6:11a. For example:
11b or ⌊can I excuse⌋ bags of false weights?
This verse is another rhetorical question. Its function is to express the next accusation of the LORD against the people.
Here are some ways to translate this rhetorical question:
• As one or more rhetorical questions. You may use slightly different questions, if that is more natural in your language. For example:
Can I justify wicked scales and a bag of deceptive weights? (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
How can I ignore the use of fraudulent scales? How can I close my eyes to inaccurate weights used to deceive?
• As a statement. For example:
I do not condone the use of rigged scales, or a bag of deceptive weights. (NET Bible)
Can I excuse:
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Can I justify (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Shall I acquit (English Standard Version)
dishonest scales…bags of false weights: Each phrase describes a way that a merchant cheated a customer. The phrase dishonest scales refers to measuring balances that were made to be inaccurate in a way that benefitted the merchant. The phrase bags of false weights refers to bags or pouches of inaccurate weights. They may have been lighter or heavier than the true weight. Together these measuring devices were used to deceive others.
Here are some other ways to translate these phrases:
misleading scales or a bag of fraudulent weights (Revised English Bible)
-or-
I do not condone the use of rigged scales, or a bag of deceptive weights. (NET Bible)
General Comment on 6:11a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these parallel lines. For example:
How can I tolerate your merchants who use dishonest scales and weights? (New Living Translation (2004))
© 2023 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.