Proverbs 11
Legacy Standard Bible
11 A (A)deceptive balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
But a (B)just weight is His delight.
2 When (C)arrogance comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the meek is wisdom.
3 The (D)integrity of the upright will lead them,
But the (E)crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 (F)Wealth will not profit in the day of wrath,
But (G)righteousness will deliver from death.
5 The (H)righteousness of the blameless will make his way straight,
But (I)the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will (J)be captured by their own desire.
7 When a wicked man dies, his (K)hope will perish,
And the (L)expectation of vigorous men perishes.
8 The righteous is rescued from [a]distress,
But the wicked [b]takes his place.
9 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
- Proverbs 11:8 Or trouble
- Proverbs 11:8 Lit enters
- Proverbs 11:15 Or being a guarantor
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit Hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:22 Lit taste
- Proverbs 11:25 Lit of blessing
- Proverbs 11:25 Lit made fat
- Proverbs 11:30 Lit takes
Proverbs 11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
11 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but an accurate weight is his delight.(A)
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but wisdom is with the humble.(B)
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.(C)
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.(D)
5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,
but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright saves them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.(E)
7 When the wicked die, hope perishes,
and the expectation of strength comes to nothing.(F)
8 The righteous are delivered from trouble,
and the wicked come into it instead.(G)
9 With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.(H)
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.(I)
12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense,
but an intelligent person remains silent.(J)
13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(K)
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[a] falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.(L)
15 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,
but there is safety in refusing to do so.
16 A gracious woman gets honor,
but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.[b]
The timid become destitute,[c]
but the aggressive gain riches.(M)
17 Those who are kind reward themselves,
but the cruel do themselves harm.
18 The wicked earn no real gain,
but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.(N)
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.(O)
21 Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will escape.(P)
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without good sense.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 Some give freely yet grow all the richer;
others withhold what is due and only suffer want.(Q)
25 A generous person will be enriched,
and one who gives water will get water.(R)
26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.(S)
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to the one who searches for it.(T)
28 Those who trust in their riches will wither,[d]
but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.(U)
29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the wise capture souls.(V)
31 If the righteous are repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!(W)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.