11 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,(A)
but an accurate weight is His delight.(B)

When pride comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.(C)

The integrity of the upright guides them,(D)
but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.(E)

Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,
but righteousness rescues from death.(F)

The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.(G)

When the wicked man dies,
his expectation comes to nothing,
and hope placed in wealth[a][b] vanishes.(H)

The righteous one is rescued from trouble;
in his place, the wicked one goes in.(I)

With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10 When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices,(J)
and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

11 A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,(K)
but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.(L)

12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man with understanding keeps silent.(M)

13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.(N)

14 Without guidance, people fall,
but with many counselors there is deliverance.(O)

15 If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,(P)
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

16 A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent[c] men gain only riches.

17 A kind man benefits himself,(Q)
but a cruel man brings disaster on himself.(R)

18 The wicked man earns an empty wage,
but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.(S)

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,(T)
but pursuing evil leads to death.(U)

20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,
but those with blameless conduct are His delight.(V)

21 Be assured[d] that the wicked
will not go unpunished,(W)
but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.(X)

23 The desire of the righteous turns out well,(Y)
but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.(Z)

24 One person gives freely,
yet gains more;(AA)
another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.(AB)

25 A generous person will be enriched,(AC)
and the one who gives a drink of water
will receive water.(AD)

26 People will curse(AE) anyone who hoards grain,
but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.(AF)

27 The one who searches for what is good(AG) finds favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.(AH)

28 Anyone trusting in his riches will fall,(AI)
but the righteous will flourish like foliage.(AJ)

29 The one who brings ruin on his household(AK)
will inherit the wind,(AL)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AM)
but violence[e] takes lives.

31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and sinful.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 LXX reads hope of the ungodly
  2. Proverbs 11:7 Or strength
  3. Proverbs 11:16 Or ruthless
  4. Proverbs 11:21 Lit Hand to hand
  5. Proverbs 11:30 LXX, Syr; MT reads but a wise one

11 False scales are an abomination to Adonai,
    but accurate weights please him.

First comes pride, then disgrace;
    but with the humble is wisdom.

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the duplicity of the treacherous destroys them.

On the day of wrath, wealth doesn’t help;
    but righteousness rescues from death.

The righteousness of the innocent levels their way,
    but wickedness of the wicked makes them fall.
The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
    but the treacherous are trapped by their own intrigues.
When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
    what he hopes for from evil comes to nothing.
The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked comes to take his place.
With his mouth the hypocrite can ruin his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
    and when the wicked perish, there is joy.
11 By the blessing of the upright, a city is raised up;
    but the words of the wicked tear it down.

12 He who belittles another lacks good sense,
    whereas a person of discernment stays silent.
13 A gossip goes around revealing secrets,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

14 Without clever tactics an army is defeated,
    and victory comes from much planning.

15 He who guarantees a loan for a stranger will suffer,
    but refusing to underwrite is safe.

16 A gracious woman obtains honor;
    aggressive men obtain wealth.

17 A man who is kind does himself good,
    but the cruel does harm to himself.

18 The profits of the wicked are illusory;
    but those who sow righteousness gain a true reward.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,
    but the pursuer of evil goes to his own death.
20 The crooked-hearted are an abomination to Adonai,
    but those sincere in their ways are his delight.
21 Depend on it: the evil will not go unpunished;
    but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22 Like a gold ring in the snout of a pig
    is a beautiful woman who lacks good sense.

23 The righteous desire only good,
    but what the wicked hope for brings wrath.

24 Some give freely and still get richer,
    while others are stingy but grow still poorer.
25 The person who blesses others will prosper;
    he who satisfies others will be satisfied himself.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain;
    but if he sells it, blessings will be on his head.

27 He who strives for good obtains favor,
    but he who searches for evil — it comes to him!

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like sprouting leaves.

29 Those who trouble their families inherit the wind,
    and the fool becomes slave to the wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and he who is wise wins souls.
31 If the righteous are paid what they deserve here on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!