Proverbs 11
Lexham English Bible
11 Balances of deceit are an abomination of Yahweh,
but an accurate weight[a] delights him.
2 Pride comes, then disgrace comes,
but wisdom is with the humble.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath,
but righteousness will deliver from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will keep his ways straight,
but the wicked will fall by his wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will save them,
but by a scheme the treacherous will be taken captive.
7 With the death of a wicked person, hope will die,
and the expectation of the godless perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
but the wicked enters into it.
9 With a mouth, the godless shall destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When good is with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and with the perishing of the wicked, jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright, a city will be exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked, it will be overthrown.
12 He who lacks sense[b] belittles his neighbor,
but a person of intelligence will remain silent.
13 A gossip walks about telling a secret,
but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[c] shall fall,
but there is safety in an abundance of counsel.
15 He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger,
but he who refuses a pledge is safe.
16 A woman of grace receives honor,
but the ruthless gets wealth.
17 A person of kindness rewards himself,[d]
but a cruel person harms his own flesh.
18 The wicked earns[e] deceptive gain,[f]
but he who sows righteousness, a true reward.[g]
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness is to life
as[h] he who pursues evil is to death.
20 An abomination of Yahweh are the crooked of heart,[i]
but his delight are those with blameless ways.[j]
21 Rest assured,[k] the wicked will not go unpunished,
but the offspring[l] of the righteous will escape.
22 A ring of gold in the snout of a pig
is a woman who is beautiful but without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the expectation of the wicked, wrath.
24 There is one who gives yet grows richer,[m]
but he who withholds what is right[n] only finds need.
25 A person of blessing will be enriched,
and he who gives water also will be refreshed.
26 He who withholds grain, the people curse him,
but a blessing is for the head of him who sells.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but he who inquires of evil, it will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his wealth is he who will fall,
but like a green leaf the righteous will flourish.
29 He who brings trouble to his household, he will inherit wind,[o]
and a fool will serve the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life,
and he who captures souls[p] is wise.
31 If the righteous on earth will be repaid,
how much more[q] the wicked and sinner.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:1 Literally “a full stone” or “a pure stone”
- Proverbs 11:12 Literally “heart”
- Proverbs 11:14 Or “people”
- Proverbs 11:17 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 11:18 Or “does, makes”
- Proverbs 11:18 Literally “gain of deception”
- Proverbs 11:18 Literally “a reward of truth”
- Proverbs 11:19 Hebrew “and”
- Proverbs 11:20 Literally “crooked ones of heart”; “heart” may also be translated “mind”
- Proverbs 11:20 Literally “blameless ones of ways”
- Proverbs 11:21 Literally “Hand to hand”
- Proverbs 11:21 Or “seed”
- Proverbs 11:24 Literally “adding more”
- Proverbs 11:24 Literally “from what is right”
- Proverbs 11:29 Or “breath, spirit”
- Proverbs 11:30 Or “persons,” or “inner selves”
- Proverbs 11:31 Literally “more for”
Proverbs 11
English Standard Version
11 (A)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
(B)but a just weight is his delight.
2 (C)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with (D)the humble is wisdom.
3 (E)The integrity of the upright guides them,
(F)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 (G)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
(H)but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless (I)keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6 (J)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous (K)are taken captive by their lust.
7 When the wicked dies, his (L)hope will perish,
and (M)the expectation of wealth[a] perishes too.
8 (N)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 (O)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but (P)by the mouth of the wicked (Q)it is overthrown.
12 Whoever (R)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Whoever (S)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14 Where there is (T)no guidance, a people falls,
(U)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15 (V)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 (W)A gracious woman gets honor,
and (X)violent men get riches.
17 (Y)A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who (Z)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness (AA)will live,
but (AB)he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of (AC)crooked heart are (AD)an abomination to the Lord,
but those of (AE)blameless ways are (AF)his delight.
21 (AG)Be assured, (AH)an evil person will not go unpunished,
but (AI)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like (AJ)a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
(AK)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 (AL)One gives (AM)freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 (AN)Whoever brings blessing (AO)will be enriched,
and (AP)one who waters will himself be watered.
26 (AQ)The people curse him who holds back grain,
but (AR)a blessing is on the head of him who (AS)sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,[b]
but evil comes to (AT)him who searches for it.
28 Whoever (AU)trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will (AV)flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever (AW)troubles his own household will (AX)inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (AY)a tree of life,
and whoever (AZ)captures souls is wise.
31 If (BA)the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:7 Or of his strength, or of iniquity
- Proverbs 11:27 Or acceptance
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
