Add parallel Print Page Options

11 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but accurate weights are his delight.
When pride comes, then comes shame,
    but with humility comes wisdom.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them,
    but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way,
    but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them,
    but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes,
    and expectation of power comes to nothing.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble,
    and the wicked takes his place.
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

  1. 11:21 or, seed

11 Balances of deceit are an abomination of Yahweh,
    but an accurate weight[a] delights him.
Pride comes, then disgrace comes,
    but wisdom is with the humble.
The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath,
    but righteousness will deliver from death.
The righteousness of the blameless will keep his ways straight,
    but the wicked will fall by his wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright will save them,
    but by a scheme the treacherous will be taken captive.
With the death of a wicked person, hope will die,
    and the expectation of the godless perishes.
The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    but the wicked enters into it.
With a mouth, the godless shall destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When good is with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and with the perishing of the wicked, jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright, a city will be exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked, it will be overthrown.
12 He who lacks sense[b] belittles his neighbor,
    but a person of intelligence will remain silent.
13 A gossip walks about telling a secret,
    but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[c] shall fall,
    but there is safety in an abundance of counsel.
15 He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger,
    but he who refuses a pledge is safe.
16 A woman of grace receives honor,
    but the ruthless gets wealth.
17 A person of kindness rewards himself,[d]
    but a cruel person harms his own flesh.
18 The wicked earns[e] deceptive gain,[f]
    but he who sows righteousness, a true reward.[g]
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness is to life
    as[h] he who pursues evil is to death.
20 An abomination of Yahweh are the crooked of heart,[i]
    but his delight are those with blameless ways.[j]
21 Rest assured,[k] the wicked will not go unpunished,
    but the offspring[l] of the righteous will escape.
22 A ring of gold in the snout of a pig
    is a woman who is beautiful but without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
    but the expectation of the wicked, wrath.
24 There is one who gives yet grows richer,[m]
    but he who withholds what is right[n] only finds need.
25 A person of blessing will be enriched,
    and he who gives water also will be refreshed.
26 He who withholds grain, the people curse him,
    but a blessing is for the head of him who sells.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but he who inquires of evil, it will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his wealth is he who will fall,
    but like a green leaf the righteous will flourish.
29 He who brings trouble to his household, he will inherit wind,[o]
    and a fool will serve the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life,
    and he who captures souls[p] is wise.
31 If the righteous on earth will be repaid,
    how much more[q] the wicked and sinner.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:1 Literally “a full stone” or “a pure stone”
  2. Proverbs 11:12 Literally “heart”
  3. Proverbs 11:14 Or “people”
  4. Proverbs 11:17 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  5. Proverbs 11:18 Or “does, makes”
  6. Proverbs 11:18 Literally “gain of deception”
  7. Proverbs 11:18 Literally “a reward of truth”
  8. Proverbs 11:19 Hebrew “and”
  9. Proverbs 11:20 Literally “crooked ones of heart”; “heart” may also be translated “mind”
  10. Proverbs 11:20 Literally “blameless ones of ways”
  11. Proverbs 11:21 Literally “Hand to hand”
  12. Proverbs 11:21 Or “seed”
  13. Proverbs 11:24 Literally “adding more”
  14. Proverbs 11:24 Literally “from what is right”
  15. Proverbs 11:29 Or “breath, spirit”
  16. Proverbs 11:30 Or “persons,” or “inner selves”
  17. Proverbs 11:31 Literally “more for”