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Proverbs 11:14-23
New International Version
Proverbs 11:14-23
New International Version
15 Whoever puts up security(C) for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(D)
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(E)
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.(F)
20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(I)
but he delights(J) in those whose ways are blameless.(K)
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.(L)
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.
Proverbs 11:14-23
English Standard Version
Proverbs 11:14-23
English Standard Version
14 Where 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.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who (G)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness (H)will live,
but (I)he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those 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.
22 Like (Q)a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
(R)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
Proverbs 11:14-23
Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 11:14-23
Christian Standard Bible
14 Without guidance, a people will fall,
but with many counselors there is deliverance.(A)
15 If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,(B)
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.
16 A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent[a] people gain only riches.
18 The wicked person earns an empty wage,
but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.(E)
20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,
but those with blameless conduct are his delight.(H)
21 Be assured[b] that a wicked person
will not go unpunished,(I)
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.(J)
Proverbs 11:14-23
New American Standard Bible 1995
Proverbs 11:14-23
New American Standard Bible 1995
14 Where there is no (A)guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is [a]victory.
15 He who is (B)guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
But he who hates [b]being a guarantor is secure.
16 A (C)gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.
17 The (D)merciful man does [c]himself good,
But the cruel man [d]does himself harm.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who (E)sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 He who is steadfast in (F)righteousness will attain to life,
And (G)he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
20 The 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.
22 As a (J)ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks [h]discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the (K)expectation of the wicked is wrath.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:14 Lit deliverance
- Proverbs 11:15 Lit those who strike hands
- Proverbs 11:17 Lit good to his own soul
- Proverbs 11:17 Lit troubles his flesh
- Proverbs 11:20 Lit way
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit Hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit seed
- Proverbs 11:22 Lit taste
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.