Proverbs 11:11-29

English Standard Version

¹¹By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but ^(A)by the mouth of the wicked ^(B)it is overthrown.
¹²Whoever ^(C)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³Whoever ^(D)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴Where there is ^(E)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(F)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵^(G)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶^(H)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(I)violent men get riches.
¹⁷^(J)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(K)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(L)will live,
    but ^(M)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰Those of ^(N)crooked heart are ^(O)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(P)blameless ways are ^(Q)his delight.
²¹^(R)Be assured, ^(S)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(T)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²²Like ^(U)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(V)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴^(W)One gives ^(X)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵^(Y)Whoever brings blessing ^(Z)will be enriched,
    and ^(AA)one who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶^(AB)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but ^(AC)a blessing is on the head of him who ^(AD)sells it.
²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,^[a]
    but evil comes to ^(AE)him who searches for it.
²⁸Whoever ^(AF)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will ^(AG)flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹Whoever ^(AH)troubles his own household will ^(AI)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.