Proverbs 11:4-23

English Standard Version

^4 (A)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    ^(B)but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless ^(C)keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
^6 (D)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous ^(E)are taken captive by their lust.
⁷ When the wicked dies, his ^(F)hope will perish,
    and ^(G)the expectation of wealth^[a] perishes too.
^8 (H)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹ With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
^10 (I)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 ^(J)by the mouth of the wicked ^(K)it is overthrown.
¹² Whoever ^(L)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³ Whoever ^(M)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴ Where there is ^(N)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(O)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
^15 (P)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
^16 (Q)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(R)violent men get riches.
^17 (S)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸ The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(T)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹ Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(U)will live,
    but ^(V)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Those of ^(W)crooked heart are ^(X)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(Y)blameless ways are ^(Z)his delight.
^21 (AA)Be assured, ^(AB)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(AC)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²² Like ^(AD)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(AE)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.