Proverbs 11-13

Common English Bible

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
    but delights in an accurate weight.
² When pride comes, so does shame,
    but wisdom brings humility.
³ Integrity guides the virtuous,
    but dishonesty ruins the treacherous.
⁴ Riches don’t help in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness rescues from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight,
    but the wicked fall in their wickedness.
⁶ Those who do right are saved by their righteousness,
    but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.
⁷ When the wicked die, their hope perishes.
    Yes, any hope based on money perishes.
⁸ The righteous are saved from distress,
    and the wicked take their place.
⁹ The godless destroy their neighbors by their words,
    but the righteous are saved by their knowledge.
¹⁰ When the righteous succeed, a city rejoices;
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
¹¹ A city is honored by the blessing of the virtuous;
    it is destroyed by the words of the wicked.
¹² Whoever despises their neighbor lacks sense;
    a sensible person keeps quiet.
¹³ A slanderer walks around revealing secrets,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
¹⁴ Without guidance, a people will fall,
    but there is victory with many counselors.
¹⁵ Guaranteeing the debt of a stranger brings big trouble,
    but the one who refuses to shake hands will be secure.
¹⁶ A gracious woman gains honor;
    violent men gain only wealth.
¹⁷ Kind persons benefit themselves,
    but cruel people harm themselves.
¹⁸ The wicked earn false wages,
    but those who sow righteousness receive a true reward.
¹⁹ The righteous are headed toward life,
    but those who pursue evil, toward death.
²⁰ The Lord detests a crooked heart,
    but he favors those whose path is innocent.
²¹ The evil person will surely not go unpunished,
    but the children of the righteous will escape.
²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s nose
    is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
²³ The desires of the righteous end up well,
    but the expectations of the wicked bring wrath.
²⁴ Those who give generously receive more,
    but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy.
²⁵ Generous persons will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
²⁶ People curse those who hoard grain,
    but they bless those^[a] who sell it.
²⁷ Those who look for good find favor,
    but those who seek evil—it will come to them.
²⁸ Those who trust in their wealth will wither,
    but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees.
²⁹ Those who trouble their family will inherit the wind.
    The fool will be servant to the wise.
³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the wise gather lives.^[b]
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
    how much more the wicked and sinners?

12 Those who love discipline love knowledge,
    and those who hate correction are stupid.
² The Lord favors good people,
    but he condemns schemers.
³ No one is established by wicked acts,
    but the roots of the righteous can’t be disturbed.
⁴ A strong woman is a crown to her husband,
    but a disgraceful woman is like rot in his bones.
⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the guidance of the wicked is deceptive.
⁶ The words of the wicked are a deathtrap,
    but the speech of those who do right rescues them.
⁷ The wicked are destroyed and are no more,
    but the family of the righteous will endure.
⁸ A person is praised for his insight,
    but a warped mind leads to contempt.
⁹ Better to be held in low regard and have a servant
    than to be conceited and lack food.
¹⁰ The righteous care about their livestock’s needs,
    but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
¹¹ Those who work their land will have plenty to eat,
    but those who engage in empty pursuits have no sense.
¹² Desiring evil is a trap for the wicked,
    but the root of the righteous endures.^[c]
13 The wicked are trapped by the transgressions of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from distress.
¹⁴ From the fruit of their speech, people are well satisfied;
    their work results in reward.
¹⁵ Fools see their own way as right,
    but the wise listen to advice.
¹⁶ Fools reveal their anger right away,
    but the shrewd hide their contempt.
¹⁷ Those who state the truth speak justly,
    but a false witness deceives.
¹⁸ Some chatter on like a stabbing sword,
    but a wise tongue heals.
¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil,
    but there is joy for those who advise peace.
²¹ No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked receive their fill of trouble.
²² The Lord detests false lips;
    he favors those who do what is true.
²³ The shrewd conceal their knowledge,
    but the heart of fools proclaims their stupidity.
²⁴ A hard worker is in charge,
    while a lazy one will be sentenced to hard labor.
²⁵ Anxiety leads to depression,
    but a good word encourages.
²⁶ The righteous offer guidance to their neighbors,^[d]
    but the path of the wicked makes them wander.
²⁷ The lazy don’t roast^[e] their prey,
    but hard workers receive precious riches.
²⁸ The way of the righteous leads to life,
    but the detestable^[f] path leads to death.

13 A wise son listens to^[g] the discipline of his father,
    but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.
² People eat well from the fruit of their words,
    but the treacherous have an appetite only for violence.
³ People who watch their mouths guard their lives,
    but those who open their lips are ruined.
⁴ The lazy have strong desires but receive nothing;
    the appetite of the diligent is satisfied.
⁵ The righteous hate false words,
    but the wicked create disgust and scorn.
⁶ Righteousness guards the innocent on the path,
    but wickedness misleads sinners.
⁷ Some pretend to be rich but have nothing,
    while others pretend to be poor, but have great riches.
⁸ Wealth can ransom a person’s life,
    but the poor don’t even receive threats.
⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
¹⁰ The empty-headed cause conflict out of pride;
    those who take advice are wise.
¹¹ Riches gotten quickly^[h] will dwindle,
    but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.
¹² Hope delayed makes the heart sick;
    longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
¹³ Trouble will come on those who despise a word,
    but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.
¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    turning a person away from deathtraps.
¹⁵ Good insight brings favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.^[i]
16 The prudent all act intelligently,
    but fools display their stupidity.
¹⁷ Wicked messengers fall into trouble,
    but a reliable one brings healing.
¹⁸ Poverty and shame come to those who don’t care about instruction;
    honor belongs to those who heed correction.
¹⁹ A desire fulfilled is pleasant,
    but fools find deviating from evil disgusting.
²⁰ Walk with wise people and become wise;
    befriend fools and get in trouble.
²¹ Trouble pursues sinners,
    but good things reward the righteous.
²² Good people leave their grandchildren an inheritance,
    but the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous.
²³ A poor person’s land might produce much food,
    but it is unjustly swept away.
²⁴ Those who withhold the rod hate their children,
    but the one who loves them applies discipline.
²⁵ The righteous eat their fill,
    but the wicked have empty stomachs.