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

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