Proverbs 11
Modern English Version
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame;
but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
but the perverseness of transgressors will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the upright will direct his way,
but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
but transgressors will be taken by their schemes.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
and the hope of unjust men perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked comes in his place.
9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the just will be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who is void of wisdom despises his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15 He who puts up a pledge for a stranger will suffer for it,
and he who hates being a pledge is secure.
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
but ruthless men retain riches.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel troubles his own body.
18 The wicked works a deceitful work,
but to him who sows righteousness will be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tends to life,
so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are abomination to the Lord,
but such as are upright in their way are His delight.
21 Though be assured, the wicked will not be unpunished,
but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout,
so is a fair woman who is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases;
and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.
25 The generous soul will be made rich,
and he who waters will be watered also himself.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,
but blessing will be upon the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good procures favor,
but he who seeks mischief, it will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish as a branch.
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous will be recompensed in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner.
Proverbs 11
American Standard Version
11 [a]A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah;
But a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame;
But with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them;
But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath;
But righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall [b]direct his way;
But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them;
But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish;
And the hope of [c]iniquity perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble;
And the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor;
But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth;
And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted;
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of [d]wisdom;
But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;
But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.
14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth;
But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger [e]shall smart for it;
But he that hateth [f]suretyship is secure.
16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor;
And violent men obtain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul;
But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages;
But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
19 [g]He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life;
And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.
20 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah;
But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
21 [h]Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished;
But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a fair woman that [i]is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good;
But the expectation of the wicked is [j]wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more;
And there is that withholdeth [k]more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat;
And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him;
But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor;
But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;
But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind;
And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;
And he that is wise winneth souls.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth;
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:1 Hebrew A balance of deceit.
- Proverbs 11:5 Or, make straight (or, plain)
- Proverbs 11:7 Or, strong men
- Proverbs 11:12 Hebrew heart.
- Proverbs 11:15 Hebrew shall be sore broken.
- Proverbs 11:15 Hebrew those that strike hands.
- Proverbs 11:19 Or, So righteousness tendeth to life, and he etc.
- Proverbs 11:21 Or, My hand upon it! Hebrew Hand to hand.
- Proverbs 11:22 Hebrew turneth aside from.
- Proverbs 11:23 Or, arrogance
- Proverbs 11:24 Or, what is justly due
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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