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)
Proverbs 11
International Standard Version
The Value of Righteousness
11 The Lord hates false scales,
but he delights in accurate weights.
2 When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it,
but humility is present with wisdom.
3 The integrity of the righteous guides them,
but the hypocrisy of the treacherous destroys them.
4 Wealth won’t help in the time of judgment,[a]
but righteousness will deliver from death.
5 The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path,
but the wicked fall by their wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their evil desires.
7 When a wicked person dies, his hope vanishes;[b]
and what he[c] expected from his scheming comes to nothing.
8 The righteous person is delivered from trouble;
it comes upon the wicked instead.
9 By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10 The city rejoices when the righteous prosper,
and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.
11 Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up,
but what the wicked say tears it down.
12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but the discerning man controls his comments.
13 Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets,
but the trustworthy person[d] keeps a confidence.
14 A nation falls through a lack of guidance,
but victory comes through the counsel of many.[e]
15 Securing a loan for a stranger will bring suffering,
but by refusing to do so, one remains safe.
16 A gracious woman attains honor,[f]
but[g] ruthless men attain[h] wealth.
17 A gracious man benefits himself,
but the cruel person damages himself.
18 Evil people earn deceptive wages,
but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,
but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 Devious minds are abhorrent to the Lord,
but those whose ways are innocent are his delight.
21 Be sure of this:[i] the wicked will not go unpunished,
but the descendants of the righteous will go free.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is to seek good,
but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.
24 Those who give freely gain even more;
others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.
25 A generous person will prosper,
and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.
26 People will curse whoever withholds grain,
but blessing will come to whoever is selling.
27 The person seeking good will find favor,
but anyone who searches for evil—it will find him!
28 The person who trusts in his wealth will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be a servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is[j] a tree of life,
and the one who wins people is wise.[k]
31 If the righteous receive what they are due here on earth,
how much more will the wicked and the sinner.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:4 Lit. the day of wrath
- Proverbs 11:7 So MT; LXX reads When a righteous man dies, his hope does not perish
- Proverbs 11:7 So MT; LXX reads what the ungodly
- Proverbs 11:13 Lit. trustworthy in spirit
- Proverbs 11:14 Or through much planning
- Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads honor for her husband
- Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads but a seat of dishonor is for the woman who hates justice
- Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads justice. The deficient shrink from wealth, but the diligent support themselves with
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit. Hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:30 So MT; LXX reads From the fruit of righteousness grows
- Proverbs 11:30 So MT; LXX reads life, but the souls of those who practice evil are cut off prematurely
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