Proverbs 11:16-28

English Standard Version

^16 (A)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(B)violent men get riches.
^17 (C)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸ The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(D)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹ Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(E)will live,
    but ^(F)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Those of ^(G)crooked heart are ^(H)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(I)blameless ways are ^(J)his delight.
^21 (K)Be assured, ^(L)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(M)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²² Like ^(N)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(O)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
^24 (P)One gives ^(Q)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
^25 (R)Whoever brings blessing ^(S)will be enriched,
    and ^(T)one who waters will himself be watered.
^26 (U)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but ^(V)a blessing is on the head of him who ^(W)sells it.
²⁷ Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,^[a]
    but evil comes to ^(X)him who searches for it.
²⁸ Whoever ^(Y)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will ^(Z)flourish like a green leaf.