Proverbs 11
New King James Version
The Folly of Wickedness
2 When pride comes, then comes (B)shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide (C)them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4 (D)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But (E)righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will [c]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own (F)wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will (G)perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8 (H)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
9 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.
14 (M)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
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.
29 He who troubles his own house (AD)will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be (AE)servant to the wise of heart.
31 (AG)If the righteous will be [k]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:1 deceptive
- Proverbs 11:1 Lit. perfect stone
- Proverbs 11:5 Or make smooth or straight
- Proverbs 11:12 Lit. lacks heart
- Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
- Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit. hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:22 taste
- Proverbs 11:27 Lit. seeks
- Proverbs 11:30 Lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf. 1 Sam. 16:11
- Proverbs 11:31 rewarded
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
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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