11 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,(A)
but an accurate weight is his delight.(B)

When arrogance comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.(C)

The integrity of the upright guides them,(D)
but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.(E)

Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,
but righteousness rescues from death.(F)

The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.(G)

When the wicked person dies,
his expectation comes to nothing,
and hope placed in wealth[a][b] vanishes.(H)

The righteous one is rescued from trouble;
in his place, the wicked one goes in.(I)

With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10 When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices;(J)
when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.(K)

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.

17 A kind man benefits himself,(R)
but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.(S)

18 The wicked person earns an empty wage,
but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.(T)

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,(U)
but pursuing evil leads to death.(V)

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)

23 The desire of the righteous turns out well,(Z)
but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.(AA)

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)

28 Anyone trusting in his riches will fall,(AJ)
but the righteous will flourish like foliage.(AK)

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.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AN)
but a cunning person takes lives.(AO)

31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and sinful.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. 11:7 LXX reads hope of the ungodly
  2. 11:7 Or strength
  3. 11:16 Or ruthless
  4. 11:21 Lit Hand to hand

The Value of Righteousness

11 The Lord hates false scales,
but he delights in accurate weights.

When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it,
    but humility is present with wisdom.
The integrity of the righteous guides them,
    but the hypocrisy of the treacherous destroys them.
Wealth won’t help in the time of judgment,[a]
    but righteousness will deliver from death.

The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path,
    but the wicked fall by their wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous are trapped by their evil desires.

When a wicked person dies, his hope vanishes;[b]
    and what he[c] expected from his scheming comes to nothing.
The righteous person is delivered from trouble;
    it comes upon the wicked instead.
By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

10 The city rejoices when the righteous prosper,
    and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.
11 Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up,
    but what the wicked say tears it down.

12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but the discerning man controls his comments.
13 Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets,
    but the trustworthy person[d] keeps a confidence.

14 A nation falls through a lack of guidance,
    but victory comes through the counsel of many.[e]

15 Securing a loan for a stranger will bring suffering,
    but by refusing to do so, one remains safe.

16 A gracious woman attains honor,[f]
    but[g] ruthless men attain[h] wealth.
17 A gracious man benefits himself,
    but the cruel person damages himself.

18 Evil people earn deceptive wages,
    but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,
    but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 Devious minds are abhorrent to the Lord,
    but those whose ways are innocent are his delight.
21 Be sure of this:[i] the wicked will not go unpunished,
    but the descendants of the righteous will go free.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is to seek good,
    but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

24 Those who give freely gain even more;
    others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.
25 A generous person will prosper,
    and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.
26 People will curse whoever withholds grain,
    but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

27 The person seeking good will find favor,
    but anyone who searches for evil—it will find him!

28 The person who trusts in his wealth will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is[j] a tree of life,
    and the one who wins people is wise.[k]
31 If the righteous receive what they are due here on earth,
    how much more will the wicked and the sinner.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:4 Lit. the day of wrath
  2. Proverbs 11:7 So MT; LXX reads When a righteous man dies, his hope does not perish
  3. Proverbs 11:7 So MT; LXX reads what the ungodly
  4. Proverbs 11:13 Lit. trustworthy in spirit
  5. Proverbs 11:14 Or through much planning
  6. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads honor for her husband
  7. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads but a seat of dishonor is for the woman who hates justice
  8. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads justice. The deficient shrink from wealth, but the diligent support themselves with
  9. Proverbs 11:21 Lit. Hand to hand
  10. Proverbs 11:30 So MT; LXX reads From the fruit of righteousness grows
  11. Proverbs 11:30 So MT; LXX reads life, but the souls of those who practice evil are cut off prematurely