Proverbs 10:18-11:23

English Standard Version

¹⁸ The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.
^19 (A)When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    ^(B)but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is ^(C)choice silver;
    the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many,
    but fools die for ^(D)lack of sense.
^22 (E)The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
    and he adds no sorrow with it.^[a]
23 Doing wrong is ^(F)like a joke to a fool,
    but ^(G)wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
^24 (H)What the wicked dreads ^(I)will come upon him,
    but ^(J)the desire of the righteous will be granted.
²⁵ When ^(K)the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
    but ^(L)the righteous is established forever.
²⁶ Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so is the sluggard to those who send him.
^27 (M)The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
    ^(N)but the years of the wicked will be short.
^28 (O)The hope of the righteous brings joy,
    ^(P)but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
^29 (Q)The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
    but destruction to evildoers.
^30 (R)The righteous will never be removed,
    but ^(S)the wicked will not dwell in the land.
^31 (T)The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
³² The lips of the righteous ^(U)know what is acceptable,
    but the mouth of the wicked, ^(V)what is perverse.
11 ^(W)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(X)but a just weight is his delight.
^2 (Y)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with ^(Z)the humble is wisdom.
^3 (AA)The integrity of the upright guides them,
    ^(AB)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
^4 (AC)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    ^(AD)but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless ^(AE)keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
^6 (AF)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous ^(AG)are taken captive by their lust.
⁷ When the wicked dies, his ^(AH)hope will perish,
    and ^(AI)the expectation of wealth^[b] perishes too.
^8 (AJ)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹ With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
^10 (AK)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but ^(AL)by the mouth of the wicked ^(AM)it is overthrown.
¹² Whoever ^(AN)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³ Whoever ^(AO)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴ Where there is ^(AP)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(AQ)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
^15 (AR)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
^16 (AS)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(AT)violent men get riches.
^17 (AU)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸ The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(AV)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹ Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(AW)will live,
    but ^(AX)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Those of ^(AY)crooked heart are ^(AZ)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(BA)blameless ways are ^(BB)his delight.
^21 (BC)Be assured, ^(BD)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(BE)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²² Like ^(BF)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(BG)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.