Proverbs 10-15

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?

12 Those who love discipline love knowledge,
    and those who hate correction are stupid.
² The Lord favors good people,
    but he condemns schemers.
³ No one is established by wicked acts,
    but the roots of the righteous can’t be disturbed.
⁴ A strong woman is a crown to her husband,
    but a disgraceful woman is like rot in his bones.
⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the guidance of the wicked is deceptive.
⁶ The words of the wicked are a deathtrap,
    but the speech of those who do right rescues them.
⁷ The wicked are destroyed and are no more,
    but the family of the righteous will endure.
⁸ A person is praised for his insight,
    but a warped mind leads to contempt.
⁹ Better to be held in low regard and have a servant
    than to be conceited and lack food.
¹⁰ The righteous care about their livestock’s needs,
    but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
¹¹ Those who work their land will have plenty to eat,
    but those who engage in empty pursuits have no sense.
¹² Desiring evil is a trap for the wicked,
    but the root of the righteous endures.^[c]
13 The wicked are trapped by the transgressions of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from distress.
¹⁴ From the fruit of their speech, people are well satisfied;
    their work results in reward.
¹⁵ Fools see their own way as right,
    but the wise listen to advice.
¹⁶ Fools reveal their anger right away,
    but the shrewd hide their contempt.
¹⁷ Those who state the truth speak justly,
    but a false witness deceives.
¹⁸ Some chatter on like a stabbing sword,
    but a wise tongue heals.
¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil,
    but there is joy for those who advise peace.
²¹ No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked receive their fill of trouble.
²² The Lord detests false lips;
    he favors those who do what is true.
²³ The shrewd conceal their knowledge,
    but the heart of fools proclaims their stupidity.
²⁴ A hard worker is in charge,
    while a lazy one will be sentenced to hard labor.
²⁵ Anxiety leads to depression,
    but a good word encourages.
²⁶ The righteous offer guidance to their neighbors,^[d]
    but the path of the wicked makes them wander.
²⁷ The lazy don’t roast^[e] their prey,
    but hard workers receive precious riches.
²⁸ The way of the righteous leads to life,
    but the detestable^[f] path leads to death.

13 A wise son listens to^[g] the discipline of his father,
    but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.
² People eat well from the fruit of their words,
    but the treacherous have an appetite only for violence.
³ People who watch their mouths guard their lives,
    but those who open their lips are ruined.
⁴ The lazy have strong desires but receive nothing;
    the appetite of the diligent is satisfied.
⁵ The righteous hate false words,
    but the wicked create disgust and scorn.
⁶ Righteousness guards the innocent on the path,
    but wickedness misleads sinners.
⁷ Some pretend to be rich but have nothing,
    while others pretend to be poor, but have great riches.
⁸ Wealth can ransom a person’s life,
    but the poor don’t even receive threats.
⁹ The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
¹⁰ The empty-headed cause conflict out of pride;
    those who take advice are wise.
¹¹ Riches gotten quickly^[h] will dwindle,
    but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.
¹² Hope delayed makes the heart sick;
    longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
¹³ Trouble will come on those who despise a word,
    but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.
¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    turning a person away from deathtraps.
¹⁵ Good insight brings favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.^[i]
16 The prudent all act intelligently,
    but fools display their stupidity.
¹⁷ Wicked messengers fall into trouble,
    but a reliable one brings healing.
¹⁸ Poverty and shame come to those who don’t care about instruction;
    honor belongs to those who heed correction.
¹⁹ A desire fulfilled is pleasant,
    but fools find deviating from evil disgusting.
²⁰ Walk with wise people and become wise;
    befriend fools and get in trouble.
²¹ Trouble pursues sinners,
    but good things reward the righteous.
²² Good people leave their grandchildren an inheritance,
    but the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous.
²³ A poor person’s land might produce much food,
    but it is unjustly swept away.
²⁴ Those who withhold the rod hate their children,
    but the one who loves them applies discipline.
²⁵ The righteous eat their fill,
    but the wicked have empty stomachs.

14 A wise woman builds her house,
    while a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.
² Those who walk with integrity fear the Lord,
    but those who take a crooked path despise him.
³ Pride sprouts in the mouth of a fool,^[j]
    but the lips of the wise protect them.
⁴ When there are no oxen, the stall is clean,
    but when there is a strong bull, there is abundant produce.
⁵ A truthful witness doesn’t lie,
    but a false witness spews lies.
⁶ A mocker searches for wisdom and gets none,
    but knowledge comes quickly to the intelligent.
⁷ Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t learn wise speech there.
⁸ By their wisdom the prudent understand their way,
    but the stupidity of fools deceives them.
⁹ Fools mock a compensation offering,
    but favor is with those who do right.
¹⁰ The heart knows its own distress;
    another person can’t share its joy.
¹¹ The house of the wicked is destroyed,
    but the tent flourishes for those who do right.
¹² There is a path that may seem straight to someone,
    but in the end it is a path to death.
¹³ The heart feels pain even in laughter,
    and in the end, joy turns to sorrow.
¹⁴ Rebellious hearts receive satisfaction from their ways;
    the good receive the due reward for their deeds.
¹⁵ The naive believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.
¹⁶ The wise are careful and avoid evil,
    but fools become excited and overconfident.
¹⁷ Short-tempered people make stupid mistakes,
    and schemers are hated.
¹⁸ Stupidity is the lot of the naive,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
¹⁹ Evil people will bow down before the good;
    wicked people are at the gates of the righteous.
²⁰ Even their neighbors hate the poor,
    but many love the wealthy.
²¹ Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
    but happy are those who are kind to the needy.
²² Don’t those who plan evil go astray?
    Those who plan good receive loyalty and faithfulness.
²³ There is profit in hard work,
    but mere talk leads to poverty.
²⁴ Wealth is the crown of the wise,
    and the folly of fools is folly.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a deceiver proclaims lies.
²⁶ In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence
    and refuge for one’s children.
²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
    turning people away from deathtraps.
²⁸ A king’s glory is a large population,
    but a dwindling people is a ruler’s ruin.
²⁹ Patience leads to abundant understanding,
    but impatience leads to stupid mistakes.
³⁰ A peaceful mind gives life to the body,
    but jealousy rots the bones.
³¹ Those who exploit the powerless anger their maker,
    while those who are kind to the poor honor God.
³² The wicked are thrown down by their own evil,
    but the righteous find refuge even in death.
³³ Wisdom resides in an understanding heart,
    but it’s not^[k] known in fools.
³⁴ Righteousness dignifies a nation,
    but sin disgraces a people.
³⁵ The king favors an insightful servant,
    but is furious at a shameful one.

15 A sensitive answer turns back wrath,
    but an offensive word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool gushes with stupidity.
³ The Lord’s eyes are everywhere,
    keeping watch on evil and good people.
⁴ Wholesome speech is a tree of life,
    but dishonest talk breaks the spirit.
⁵ A fool doesn’t like a father’s instruction,
    but those who heed correction are mature.
⁶ Great treasure is in the house of the righteous,
    but the gain of the wicked brings trouble.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools have none.
⁸ The Lord detests the sacrifices of the wicked,
    but favors the prayers of those who do right.
⁹ The Lord detests the path of the wicked,
    but loves those who pursue righteousness.
¹⁰ Discipline is severe for those who abandon the way;
    those who hate correction will die.
¹¹ The grave^[l] and the underworld^[m] lie open before the Lord;
    how much more the hearts of human beings!
¹² Mockers don’t like those who correct them.
    They won’t go to the wise.
¹³ A joyful heart brightens one’s face,
    but a troubled heart breaks the spirit.
¹⁴ An understanding heart seeks knowledge;
    but fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the needy are hard,
    but a happy heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶ Better a little with fear of the Lord
    than a great treasure with turmoil.
¹⁷ Better a meal of greens with love
    than a plump calf with hate.
¹⁸ Hotheads stir up conflict,
    but patient people calm down strife.
¹⁹ The path of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns,
    but the way of those who do right is a clear road.
²⁰ A wise child brings joy to a father,
    but fools despise their mothers.
²¹ Folly is joy to those who lack sense,
    but those with understanding walk straight ahead.
²² Plans fail with no counsel,
    but with many counselors they succeed.
²³ To give an appropriate answer is a joy;
    how good is a word at the right time!
²⁴ For those with insight, life is an upward path,
    avoiding the grave ^[n] below.
²⁵ The Lord snatches away the arrogant one’s house,
    but he preserves the widow’s boundaries.
²⁶ The Lord detests evil plans,
    but gracious words are pure.
²⁷ Those who acquire things unjustly gain trouble for their house,
    but those who hate bribes will live.
²⁸ The righteous heart reflects before answering,
    but the wicked mouth blurts out evil.
²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he listens to the prayers of the righteous.
³⁰ Bright eyes give joy to the heart;
    good news strengthens the bones.
³¹ The ear that listens to life-giving correction
    dwells among the wise.
³² Those who refuse discipline despise themselves,
    but those who listen to correction gain understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord is wise instruction,
    and humility comes before respect.