Proverbs 11:14-23

King James Version

¹⁴Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

¹⁵He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

¹⁶A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

¹⁷The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

¹⁸The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

¹⁹As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

²⁰They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

²¹Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

²²As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

²³The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

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Proverbs 11:14-23

New International Version

¹⁴For lack of guidance a nation falls,^(A)
but victory is won through many advisers.^(B)

¹⁵Whoever puts up security^(C) for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.^(D)

¹⁶A kindhearted woman gains honor,^(E)
but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

¹⁸A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.^(F)

¹⁹Truly the righteous attain life,^(G)
but whoever pursues evil finds death.^(H)

²⁰The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,^(I)
but he delights^(J) in those whose ways are blameless.^(K)

²¹Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.^(L)

²²Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

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Proverbs 11:14-23

English Standard Version

¹⁴Where there is ^(A)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(B)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵^(C)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶^(D)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(E)violent men get riches.
¹⁷^(F)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(G)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(H)will live,
    but ^(I)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰Those of ^(J)crooked heart are ^(K)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(L)blameless ways are ^(M)his delight.
²¹^(N)Be assured, ^(O)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(P)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²²Like ^(Q)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(R)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

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Proverbs 11:14-23

New American Standard Bible 1995

¹⁴Where there is no ^(A)guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is ^[a]victory.
¹⁵He who is ^(B)guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
But he who hates ^[b]being a guarantor is secure.
¹⁶A ^(C)gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.
¹⁷The ^(D)merciful man does ^[c]himself good,
But the cruel man ^[d]does himself harm.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who ^(E)sows righteousness gets a true reward.
¹⁹He who is steadfast in ^(F)righteousness will attain to life,
And ^(G)he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
²⁰The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the ^(H)blameless in their ^[e]walk are His ^(I)delight.
²¹^[f]Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the ^[g]descendants of the righteous will be delivered.
²²As a ^(J)ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks ^[h]discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the ^(K)expectation of the wicked is wrath.