Proverbs 10:23-11:31

English Standard Version

²³Doing wrong is ^(A)like a joke to a fool,
    but ^(B)wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
²⁴^(C)What the wicked dreads ^(D)will come upon him,
    but ^(E)the desire of the righteous will be granted.
²⁵When ^(F)the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
    but ^(G)the righteous is established forever.
²⁶Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so is the sluggard to those who send him.
²⁷^(H)The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
    ^(I)but the years of the wicked will be short.
²⁸^(J)The hope of the righteous brings joy,
    ^(K)but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
²⁹^(L)The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
    but destruction to evildoers.
³⁰^(M)The righteous will never be removed,
    but ^(N)the wicked will not dwell in the land.
³¹^(O)The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
³²The lips of the righteous ^(P)know what is acceptable,
    but the mouth of the wicked, ^(Q)what is perverse.
11 ^(R)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(S)but a just weight is his delight.
²^(T)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with ^(U)the humble is wisdom.
³^(V)The integrity of the upright guides them,
    ^(W)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
⁴^(X)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    ^(Y)but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵The righteousness of the blameless ^(Z)keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
⁶^(AA)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous ^(AB)are taken captive by their lust.
⁷When the wicked dies, his ^(AC)hope will perish,
    and ^(AD)the expectation of wealth^[a] perishes too.
⁸^(AE)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰^(AF)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
¹¹By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but ^(AG)by the mouth of the wicked ^(AH)it is overthrown.
¹²Whoever ^(AI)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³Whoever ^(AJ)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴Where there is ^(AK)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(AL)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵^(AM)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶^(AN)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(AO)violent men get riches.
¹⁷^(AP)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(AQ)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(AR)will live,
    but ^(AS)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰Those of ^(AT)crooked heart are ^(AU)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(AV)blameless ways are ^(AW)his delight.
²¹^(AX)Be assured, ^(AY)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(AZ)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²²Like ^(BA)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(BB)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴^(BC)One gives ^(BD)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵^(BE)Whoever brings blessing ^(BF)will be enriched,
    and ^(BG)one who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶^(BH)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but ^(BI)a blessing is on the head of him who ^(BJ)sells it.
²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,^[b]
    but evil comes to ^(BK)him who searches for it.
²⁸Whoever ^(BL)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will ^(BM)flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹Whoever ^(BN)troubles his own household will ^(BO)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰The fruit of the righteous is ^(BP)a tree of life,
    and whoever ^(BQ)captures souls is wise.
³¹If ^(BR)the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!