Proverbs 11:1-25

Revised Standard Version

11 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    but a just weight is his delight.
² When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
    but with the humble is wisdom.
³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
⁴ Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
⁷ When the wicked dies, his hope perishes,
    and the expectation of the godless comes to nought.
⁸ The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked gets into it instead.
⁹ With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰ 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 it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
¹² He who belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³ He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden.
¹⁴ Where there is no guidance, a people falls;
    but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵ He who gives surety for a stranger will smart for it,
    but he who hates suretyship is secure.
¹⁶ A gracious woman gets honor,
    and violent men get riches.
¹⁷ A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸ A wicked man earns deceptive wages,
    but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹ He who is steadfast in righteousness will live,
    but he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Men of perverse mind are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.
²¹ Be assured, an evil man will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will be delivered.
²² Like a gold ring in a swine’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴ One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵ A liberal man will be enriched,
    and one who waters will himself be watered.