Proverbs 11
Christian Standard Bible
2 When arrogance comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.(C)
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,(D)
but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.(E)
4 Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,
but righteousness rescues from death.(F)
5 The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.(G)
7 When the wicked person dies,
his expectation comes to nothing,
and hope placed in wealth[a][b] vanishes.(H)
8 The righteous one is rescued from trouble;
in his place, the wicked one goes in.(I)
9 With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
11 A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,(L)
but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.(M)
12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,
but a person with understanding keeps silent.(N)
13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.(O)
14 Without guidance, a people will fall,
but with many counselors there is deliverance.(P)
15 If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,(Q)
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.
16 A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent[c] people gain only riches.
18 The wicked person earns an empty wage,
but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.(T)
20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,
but those with blameless conduct are his delight.(W)
21 Be assured[d] that a wicked person
will not go unpunished,(X)
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.(Y)
24 One person gives freely,
yet gains more;(AB)
another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.(AC)
25 A generous person will be enriched,(AD)
and the one who gives a drink of water
will receive water.(AE)
26 People will curse(AF) anyone who hoards grain,
but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.(AG)
27 The one who searches for what is good(AH) seeks favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.(AI)
29 The one who brings ruin on his household(AL)
will inherit the wind,(AM)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.
31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and sinful.(AP)
Proverbs 11
King James Version
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Proverbs 11
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 11
The Fruit of the Righteous . . .[a]
1 False scales are an abomination to the Lord,
but a true weight is pleasing to him.
2 When pride is nurtured, disgrace soon follows,
but wisdom is the hallmark of the humble.
3 The upright are guarded by their integrity;
the treacherous are destroyed by their own duplicity.
4 Riches will be of no avail on the day of wrath,[b]
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The virtue of the honest man keeps his way straight,
whereas the evil man falls as a result of his wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright saves them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own schemes.
7 When a wicked man dies, all his expectations die with him,
and the hope he placed in his riches comes to nought.
8 The righteous man escapes affliction,
and the wicked man incurs it instead.
9 With his mouth the godless man seeks to ruin his neighbor,
but knowledge enables the righteous to be delivered.
10 The city rejoices when the upright prosper,
and when the wicked are ruined, there is exultation.
11 Through the blessing of the righteous a city is raised,
but it is destroyed by the mouth of the wicked.
12 A man who lacks sense belittles a neighbor,
but an intelligent man remains silent.
13 One who gossips reveals secrets,
but a trustworthy man keeps things hidden.
14 For lack of leadership a nation collapses;
safety is assured with a multitude of advisers.
15 Whoever puts up bail for a stranger will suffer loss,
but the one who refuses to do so will be safe.
16 A gracious woman acquires honor,
while the woman who hates virtue is covered with shame.
Those who are lazy become destitute,
but those who are diligent gain wealth.[c]
17 A kind man benefits himself,
whereas a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The labors of the wicked man produce little profit,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness finds life,
but the one who pursues evil is on the road to death.
20 Those with perverse hearts are abhorrent to the Lord,
but those whose ways are blameless are dear to him.
21 You need have no fear that the wicked will not be punished,
but those who are righteous will escape harm.
22 Like a ring of gold[d] in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without good sense.
23 The righteous desire only what is good;
the expectation of the wicked ends in wrath.
24 One man gives lavishly and increases his wealth,
while another is tight-fisted and ends up impoverished.[e]
25 A generous person will be enriched;
he who refreshes others will also be refreshed.
26 The people curse those who hoard grain,
but the one who sells it earns their blessing.
27 Whoever strives for good earns great acclaim,
but the one who pursues evil will be afflicted by it.
28 Whoever places his trust in riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like sprouting leaves.
29 Whoever causes trouble for his family inherits the wind,
and a fool will become a servant to the wise man.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the wise man wins souls.[f]
31 If the just man receives his deserts on earth,
how much more will the wicked and the sinner!
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:1 Once again we see the opposition between the righteous and the wicked. For there are two ways of life, and no person escapes choosing one of them. The reward of the righteous is already inscribed in the heart in some manner in his life, whereas the wicked has no valid perspective before him. The themes of kindness and mercy are joined to those of truth, uprightness, and good.
- Proverbs 11:4 Day of wrath: i.e., the day of judgment (see Isa 10:3; Zep 1:18).
- Proverbs 11:16 This verse follows the Greek. The Hebrew reads: “A kindhearted woman gains respect,/ but ruthless men acquire wealth.”
- Proverbs 11:22 Ring of gold: usually worn by women on their nose (see Gen 24:47; Ezek 16:20).
- Proverbs 11:24 Generosity brings greater blessings and prosperity (see Prov 3:9-10; Ps 112:9; Eccl 11:1-2; 2 Cor 6:9), while the one who is tight-fisted makes no friends and harms himself (see Prov 21:13).
- Proverbs 11:30 And the wise man wins souls: the Greek reads: “but violence takes lives away.”
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.
