Proverbs 11
World English Bible
11 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
but accurate weights are his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them,
but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way,
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them,
but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 When a wicked man dies, hope perishes,
and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 A righteous person is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked takes his place.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.
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 One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,
but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,
but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it,
but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 A gracious woman obtains honor,
but violent men obtain riches.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Wicked people earn deceitful wages,
but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 He who is truly righteous gets life.
He who pursues evil gets death.
20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh,
but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished,
but the offspring[a] of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good.
The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and increases yet more.
There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat.
He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 People curse someone who withholds grain,
but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.
He who is wise wins souls.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Footnotes
- 11:21 or, seed
Proverbs 11
Common English Bible
11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
but delights in an accurate weight.
2 When pride comes, so does shame,
but wisdom brings humility.
3 Integrity guides the virtuous,
but dishonesty ruins the treacherous.
4 Riches don’t help in the day of wrath,
but righteousness rescues from death.
5 The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight,
but the wicked fall in their wickedness.
6 Those who do right are saved by their righteousness,
but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.
7 When the wicked die, their hope perishes.
Yes, any hope based on money perishes.
8 The righteous are saved from distress,
and the wicked take their place.
9 The godless destroy their neighbors by their words,
but the righteous are saved by their knowledge.
10 When the righteous succeed, a city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 A city is honored by the blessing of the virtuous;
it is destroyed by the words of the wicked.
12 Whoever despises their neighbor lacks sense;
a sensible person keeps quiet.
13 A slanderer walks around revealing secrets,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Without guidance, a people will fall,
but there is victory with many counselors.
15 Guaranteeing the debt of a stranger brings big trouble,
but the one who refuses to shake hands will be secure.
16 A gracious woman gains honor;
violent men gain only wealth.
17 Kind persons benefit themselves,
but cruel people harm themselves.
18 The wicked earn false wages,
but those who sow righteousness receive a true reward.
19 The righteous are headed toward life,
but those who pursue evil, toward death.
20 The Lord detests a crooked heart,
but he favors those whose path is innocent.
21 The evil person will surely not go unpunished,
but the children of the righteous will escape.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s nose
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desires of the righteous end up well,
but the expectations of the wicked bring wrath.
24 Those who give generously receive more,
but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy.
25 Generous persons will prosper;
those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
26 People curse those who hoard grain,
but they bless those[a] who sell it.
27 Those who look for good find favor,
but those who seek evil—it will come to them.
28 Those who trust in their wealth will wither,
but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees.
29 Those who trouble their family will inherit the wind.
The fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the wise gather lives.[b]
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the wicked and sinners?
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:26 Or the heads of those
- Proverbs 11:30 Or LXX, Syr violence takes lives away
by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible