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
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)
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