Proverbs 11:18-12:14

English Standard Version

¹⁸ The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(A)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹ Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(B)will live,
    but ^(C)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Those of ^(D)crooked heart are ^(E)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(F)blameless ways are ^(G)his delight.
^21 (H)Be assured, ^(I)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(J)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²² Like ^(K)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(L)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
^24 (M)One gives ^(N)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
^25 (O)Whoever brings blessing ^(P)will be enriched,
    and ^(Q)one who waters will himself be watered.
^26 (R)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but ^(S)a blessing is on the head of him who ^(T)sells it.
²⁷ Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,^[a]
    but evil comes to ^(U)him who searches for it.
²⁸ Whoever ^(V)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will ^(W)flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹ Whoever ^(X)troubles his own household will ^(Y)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is ^(Z)a tree of life,
    and whoever ^(AA)captures souls is wise.
³¹ If ^(AB)the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who ^(AC)hates reproof is ^(AD)stupid.
² A good man ^(AE)obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
³ No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of ^(AF)the righteous will never be moved.
^4 (AG)An excellent wife is ^(AH)the crown of her husband,
    but she who ^(AI)brings shame is like ^(AJ)rottenness in his bones.
^5 (AK)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
⁶ The words of the wicked ^(AL)lie in wait for blood,
    but ^(AM)the mouth of the upright delivers them.
^7 (AN)The wicked are ^(AO)overthrown and are no more,
    ^(AP)but the house of the righteous will stand.
⁸ A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is ^(AQ)despised.
⁹ Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
^10 (AR)Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
^11 (AS)Whoever works his land ^(AT)will have plenty of bread,
    ^(AU)but he who follows ^(AV)worthless pursuits lacks sense.
¹² Whoever is wicked covets ^(AW)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³ An evil man is ensnared ^(AX)by the transgression of his lips,^{[b]
    (AY)}but the righteous escapes from trouble.
¹⁴ From the fruit of his mouth ^(AZ)a man is satisfied with good,
    ^(BA)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.