The Folly of Wickedness

11 (A)Dishonest[a] scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a [b]just weight is His delight.

When pride comes, then comes (B)shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.

The integrity of the upright will guide (C)them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
(D)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But (E)righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless will [c]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own (F)wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

When a wicked man dies, his expectation will (G)perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
(H)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 (I)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is (J)exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who [d]is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 (K)A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit (L)conceals a matter.

14 (M)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 He who is (N)surety[e] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates [f]being surety is secure.

16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17 (O)The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked man does deceptive work,
But (P)he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to (Q)life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own (R)death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21 (S)Though they join [g]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But (T)the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks [h]discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked (U)is wrath.

24 There is one who (V)scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25 (W)The generous soul will be made rich,
(X)And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26 The people will curse (Y)him who withholds grain,
But (Z)blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27 He who earnestly seeks good [i]finds favor,
(AA)But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

28 (AB)He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But (AC)the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 He who troubles his own house (AD)will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be (AE)servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And (AF)he who [j]wins souls is wise.

31 (AG)If the righteous will be [k]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

The House of the Righteous Shall Stand

12 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.

A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

A man is not established by wickedness,
But the (AH)root of the righteous cannot be moved.

(AI)An[l] excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is (AJ)like rottenness in his bones.

The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
(AK)The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
(AL)But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

(AM)The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.

A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
(AN)But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

(AO)Better is the one who is [m]slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

10 (AP)A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11 (AQ)He who [n]tills his land will be satisfied with (AR)bread,
But he who follows [o]frivolity (AS)is devoid of [p]understanding.

12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 (AT)The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
(AU)But the righteous will come through trouble.
14 (AV)A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
(AW)And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

15 (AX)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16 (AY)A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.

17 (AZ)He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 (BA)There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,
(BB)But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 (BC)No grave [q]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22 (BD)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

23 (BE)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

24 (BF)The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

25 (BG)Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But (BH)a good word makes it glad.

26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.

28 In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

Wisdom Loves Righteousness

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
(BI)But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

(BJ)A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
(BK)He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

(BL)The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
(BM)Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

(BN)There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.

The light of the righteous rejoices,
(BO)But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 By pride comes nothing but (BP)strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 (BQ)Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But (BR)when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13 He who (BS)despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 (BT)The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from (BU)the snares of death.

15 Good understanding [r]gains (BV)favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 (BW)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But (BX)a faithful ambassador brings health.

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who [s]disdains correction,
But (BY)he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21 (BZ)Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But (CA)the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 (CB)Much food is in the [t]fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is [u]waste.

24 (CC)He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him [v]promptly.

25 (CD)The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:1 deceptive
  2. Proverbs 11:1 Lit. perfect stone
  3. Proverbs 11:5 Or make smooth or straight
  4. Proverbs 11:12 Lit. lacks heart
  5. Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
  6. Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands
  7. Proverbs 11:21 Lit. hand to hand
  8. Proverbs 11:22 taste
  9. Proverbs 11:27 Lit. seeks
  10. Proverbs 11:30 Lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf. 1 Sam. 16:11
  11. Proverbs 11:31 rewarded
  12. Proverbs 12:4 Lit. A wife of valor
  13. Proverbs 12:9 lightly esteemed
  14. Proverbs 12:11 works or cultivates
  15. Proverbs 12:11 Lit. vain things
  16. Proverbs 12:11 Lit. heart
  17. Proverbs 12:21 harm
  18. Proverbs 13:15 gives
  19. Proverbs 13:18 Lit. ignores
  20. Proverbs 13:23 uncultivated
  21. Proverbs 13:23 Lit. what is swept away
  22. Proverbs 13:24 early

Bible Gateway Recommends