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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

The Folly of Wickedness

11 (A)Dishonest[a] scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a [b]just weight is His delight.

When pride comes, then comes (B)shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.

The integrity of the upright will guide (C)them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
(D)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But (E)righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless will [c]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own (F)wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

When a wicked man dies, his expectation will (G)perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
(H)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 (I)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is (J)exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who [d]is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 (K)A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit (L)conceals a matter.

14 (M)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 He who is (N)surety[e] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates [f]being surety is secure.

16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17 (O)The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked man does deceptive work,
But (P)he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to (Q)life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own (R)death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21 (S)Though they join [g]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But (T)the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks [h]discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked (U)is wrath.

24 There is one who (V)scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25 (W)The generous soul will be made rich,
(X)And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26 The people will curse (Y)him who withholds grain,
But (Z)blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27 He who earnestly seeks good [i]finds favor,
(AA)But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

28 (AB)He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But (AC)the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 He who troubles his own house (AD)will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be (AE)servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And (AF)he who [j]wins souls is wise.

31 (AG)If the righteous will be [k]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:1 deceptive
  2. Proverbs 11:1 Lit. perfect stone
  3. Proverbs 11:5 Or make smooth or straight
  4. Proverbs 11:12 Lit. lacks heart
  5. Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
  6. Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands
  7. Proverbs 11:21 Lit. hand to hand
  8. Proverbs 11:22 taste
  9. Proverbs 11:27 Lit. seeks
  10. Proverbs 11:30 Lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf. 1 Sam. 16:11
  11. Proverbs 11:31 rewarded