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Proverbs 11-13
Common English Bible
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.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:26 Or the heads of those
- Proverbs 11:30 Or LXX, Syr violence takes lives away
- Proverbs 12:12 Or gives
- Proverbs 12:26 Heb uncertain
- Proverbs 12:27 Heb uncertain
- Proverbs 12:28 LXX; MT the path of the trail
- Proverbs 13:1 Heb lacks listens to.
- Proverbs 13:11 LXX; MT from meaninglessness
- Proverbs 13:15 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT endures
Proverbs 11-13
New International Version
Proverbs 11-13
New International Version
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(E)
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(K)
8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)
9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.(O)
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(P)
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(Q)
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(R)
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(S)
12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(T)
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(U)
15 Whoever puts up security(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(AA)
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(AB)
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(AC)
20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(AF)
but he delights(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.(AH)
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.(AI)
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.(AL)
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(AM)
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(AN)
29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.(AO)
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AP)
and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 If the righteous receive their due(AQ) on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.(AR)
3 No one can be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(AU)
4 A wife of noble character(AV) is her husband’s crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(AW)
5 The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.(AX)
8 A person is praised according to their prudence,
and one with a warped(BA) mind is despised.
9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(BB)
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(BC)
12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(BF)
and the work of their hands brings them reward.(BG)
17 An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies.(BM)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.(BP)
21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(BQ)
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
24 Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in forced labor.(BW)
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(BX)
but a kind word cheers it up.
26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(BY)
27 The lazy do not roast[b] any game,
but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(BZ)
along that path is immortality.
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(CA)
2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(CB)
but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3 Those who guard their lips(CC) preserve their lives,(CD)
but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(CE)
4 A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,(CF)
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5 The righteous hate what is false,(CG)
but the wicked make themselves a stench
and bring shame on themselves.
6 Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.(CH)
7 One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;(CI)
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.(CJ)
8 A person’s riches may ransom their life,
but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.(CK)
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.(CL)
10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(CM)
11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(CN)
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.(CO)
13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(CP)
but whoever respects(CQ) a command is rewarded.(CR)
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(CS)
turning a person from the snares of death.(CT)
15 Good judgment wins favor,
but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[c]
18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(CY)
but whoever heeds correction is honored.(CZ)
19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,(DA)
but fools detest turning from evil.
20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.(DB)
22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(DF)
23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
but injustice sweeps it away.
24 Whoever spares the rod(DG) hates their children,
but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline(DH) them.(DI)
25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.(DJ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from
- Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
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