11 耶和华憎恶骗人的天平,
    喜爱公平的砝码。
傲慢带来羞辱,
    谦卑者有智慧。
正直人靠诚实引导,
    奸诈者被奸诈毁灭。
在降怒之日,财富毫无益处,
    唯有公义能救人免于死亡。
纯全人行义走坦途,
    恶人作恶致沉沦。
正直人被义行所救,
    奸诈者被私欲所掳。
恶人一死,他的希望就破灭,
    他对财势的冀望转眼成空。
义人脱离患难,
    恶人落入苦难。
不敬虔的张口败坏邻舍,
    义人却因知识获得拯救。
10 义人亨通,全城快乐;
    恶人灭亡,人人欢呼。
11 城因正直人的祝福而兴盛,
    因恶人的口舌而倾覆。
12 无知者轻视邻舍,
    明哲人保持缄默。
13 嚼舌者泄露秘密,
    忠信者守口如瓶。
14 缺乏智谋,国必败亡;
    谋士众多,战无不胜。
15 为他人作保,必受亏损;
    厌恶当保人,得享平安。
16 贤淑的女子得到尊荣,
    残暴的男子得到资财。
17 仁慈的人造福自己,
    残酷的人惹祸上身。
18 恶人赚来的转眼成空,
    播种公义的必获奖赏。
19 坚持行义,必得生命;
    追逐罪恶,终必灭亡。
20 心术不正的人令耶和华憎恶,
    纯全无过的人蒙耶和华喜爱。
21 恶人终必落入法网,
    义人的子孙必得拯救。
22 女子貌美无内涵,
    如同猪鼻挂金环。
23 义人的愿望结出善果,
    恶人的希望招致烈怒。
24 有人乐善好施,反倒越来越富;
    有人一毛不拔,反而越来越穷。
25 慷慨好施的必得昌盛,
    恩待他人的必蒙恩待。
26 囤粮不卖,惹人咒诅;
    乐意卖粮,必蒙祝福。
27 寻求良善得恩惠,
    追求罪恶遭祸患。
28 倚仗财势者必衰败,
    义人必兴旺如绿叶。
29 祸害自家,必一无所有,
    愚人必做智者的仆役。
30 义人结果如生命之树,
    智者深得人心。
31 看啊!义人在世上尚且遭报[a]
    更何况罪人和恶人呢?

Footnotes

  1. 11:31 义人在世上尚且遭报”七十士译本为“义人尚且难以得救”,参见彼得前书4:18

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.

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

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

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

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(E)

Wealth(F) is worthless in the day of wrath,(G)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(H)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(K)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(L)
    all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.(M)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)

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)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(V)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(W)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(X)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(Y)

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)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(AD)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(AE)

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.

25 A generous(AJ) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(AK)

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!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from

Watch What You Say and Do

11 The Lord hates anyone
    who cheats,
but he likes everyone
    who is honest.
Too much pride
can put you to shame.
    It's wiser to be humble.
If you do the right thing,
    honesty will be your guide.
But if you are crooked,
you will be trapped
    by your own dishonesty.

When God is angry,
    money won't help you.
Obeying God is the only way
    to be saved from death.
If you are truly good,
    you will do right;
if you are wicked,
you will be destroyed
    by your own sin.
Honesty can keep you safe,
but if you can't be trusted,
    you trap yourself.
When the wicked die,
    their hopes die with them.
Trouble goes right past
the Lord's people
    and strikes the wicked.

Dishonest people use gossip
    to destroy their neighbors;
good people are protected
    by their own good sense.
10 When honest people prosper
and the wicked disappear,
    the whole city celebrates.
11 Good people bring prosperity
    to their city,
but deceitful liars
    can destroy a city.

12 It's stupid to say bad things
    about your neighbors.
If you are sensible,
    you will keep quiet.
13 A gossip tells everything,
but a true friend
    will keep a secret.
14 (A) A city without wise leaders
    will end up in ruin;
a city with many wise leaders
    will be kept safe.

15 It's a dangerous thing
    to guarantee payment
for someone's debts.
    Don't do it!
16 A gracious woman
    will be respected,
but a ruthless man
    will only get rich.
17 Kindness is rewarded—
but if you are cruel,
    you hurt yourself.
18 Meanness gets you nowhere,
    but goodness is rewarded.
19 Always do the right thing,
    and you will live;
keep on doing wrong,
    and you will die.

20 The Lord hates sneaky people,
but he likes everyone
    who lives right.
21 You can be sure of this:
All crooks will be punished,
    but God's people won't.
22 A beautiful woman
    who acts foolishly
is like a gold ring
    on the snout of a pig.
23 Good people want what is best,
but troublemakers
    hope to stir up trouble.[a]

24 Sometimes you can become rich
by being generous
    or poor by being greedy.
25 Generosity will be rewarded:
    Give a cup of water,
and you will receive
    a cup of water in return.
26 Charge too much for grain,
    and you will be cursed;
sell it at a fair price,
    and you will be praised.
27 Try hard to do right,
    and you will win friends;
go looking for trouble,
    and you will find it.
28 Trust in your wealth,
    and you will be a failure,
but God's people will prosper
    like healthy plants.

29 Fools who cause trouble
in the family
    won't inherit a thing.
They will end up as slaves
    of someone with good sense.
30 Live right, and you will eat
    from the life-giving tree.
And if you act wisely,
    others will follow.[b]
31 (B) If good people are rewarded[c]
    here on this earth,
all who are cruel and mean
    will surely be punished.

Footnotes

  1. 11.23 Good people … trouble: Or “Good people do what is best, but troublemakers just stir up trouble.”
  2. 11.30 act … follow: Hebrew; one ancient translation “but violence leads to death.”
  3. 11.31 rewarded: Or “punished.”