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11 A (A)deceptive balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
But a (B)just weight is His delight.
When (C)arrogance comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the meek is wisdom.
The (D)integrity of the upright will lead them,
But the (E)crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
(F)Wealth will not profit in the day of wrath,
But (G)righteousness will deliver from death.
The (H)righteousness of the blameless will make his way straight,
But (I)the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will (J)be captured by their own desire.
When a wicked man dies, his (K)hope will perish,
And the (L)expectation of vigorous men perishes.
The righteous is rescued from [a]distress,
But the wicked [b]takes his place.
With his (M)mouth the godless man corrupts his neighbor,
But through knowledge the (N)righteous will be rescued.
10 When it (O)goes well with the righteous, the city exults,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is raised up,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He who despises his neighbor lacks a heart of wisdom,
But a man of discernment keeps silent.
13 He (P)who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But he who is faithful in spirit (Q)conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no (R)guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is salvation.
15 If one becomes a (S)guarantor for a stranger, he will surely suffer,
But he who hates [c]striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 A (T)gracious woman holds fast to glory,
But ruthless men hold fast to riches.
17 The man of (U)lovingkindness deals bountifully with his soul,
But the cruel man brings trouble on his flesh.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who (V)sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 He who is steadfast in (W)righteousness will attain to life,
And (X)he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
20 Those with a crooked heart are an abomination to Yahweh,
But those of a (Y)blameless way are His (Z)delight.
21 [d]Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the seed of the righteous will escape.
22 As a (AA)ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who turns away from [e]discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the (AB)hope of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who holds back what is rightly due, and yet results only in want.
25 The soul [f]that (AC)blesses will be [g]enriched,
And he who (AD)waters will himself be watered.
26 He who withholds grain, the (AE)people will curse him,
But (AF)blessing will be on the head of him who (AG)sells it.
27 He who earnestly seeks good seeks favor,
But (AH)he who searches for evil, evil will come to him.
28 He who (AI)trusts in his riches will fall,
But (AJ)the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 He who (AK)troubles his own house will (AL)inherit wind,
And (AM)the ignorant fool will be a slave to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (AN)a tree of life,
And (AO)he who is wise [h]wins souls.
31 If (AP)the righteous will be repaid in the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:8 Or trouble
  2. Proverbs 11:8 Lit enters
  3. Proverbs 11:15 Or being a guarantor
  4. Proverbs 11:21 Lit Hand to hand
  5. Proverbs 11:22 Lit taste
  6. Proverbs 11:25 Lit of blessing
  7. Proverbs 11:25 Lit made fat
  8. Proverbs 11:30 Lit takes

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