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11 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,
    but he delights in accurate weights.

Pride leads to disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

Honesty guides good people;
    dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

Riches won’t help on the day of judgment,
    but right living can save you from death.

The godly are directed by honesty;
    the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

The godliness of good people rescues them;
    the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,
    for they rely on their own feeble strength.

The godly are rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.

With their words, the godless destroy their friends,
    but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

10 The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed;
    they shout for joy when the wicked die.

11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,
    but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;
    a sensible person keeps quiet.

13 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
    there is safety in having many advisers.

15 There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;
    it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

16 A gracious woman gains respect,
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Your kindness will reward you,
    but your cruelty will destroy you.

18 Evil people get rich for the moment,
    but the reward of the godly will last.

19 Godly people find life;
    evil people find death.

20 The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,
    but he delights in those with integrity.

21 Evil people will surely be punished,
    but the children of the godly will go free.

22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion
    is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23 The godly can look forward to a reward,
    while the wicked can expect only judgment.

24 Give freely and become more wealthy;
    be stingy and lose everything.

25 The generous will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

26 People curse those who hoard their grain,
    but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

27 If you search for good, you will find favor;
    but if you search for evil, it will find you!

28 Trust in your money and down you go!
    But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.
    The fool will be a servant to the wise.

30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;
    a wise person wins friends.[a]

31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,
    what will happen to wicked sinners?[b]

Footnotes

  1. 11:30 Or and those who win souls are wise.
  2. 11:31 Greek version reads If the righteous are barely saved, / what will happen to godless sinners? Compare 1 Pet 4:18.

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(C)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(D)

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(E)

Wealth(F) is worthless in the day of wrath,(G)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(H)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(K)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(L)
    all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.(M)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(O)

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(P)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(Q)

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(R)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(S)

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(T)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(U)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(V)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(W)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(X)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(Y)

15 Whoever puts up security(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(AA)

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(AB)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(AC)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(AD)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(AE)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(AF)
    but he delights(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.(AH)

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.(AI)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(AJ) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(AK)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(AL)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(AM)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(AN)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(AO)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AP)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due(AQ) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from