Proverbs 11:6-12:23

English Standard Version

⁶^(A)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous ^(B)are taken captive by their lust.
⁷When the wicked dies, his ^(C)hope will perish,
    and ^(D)the expectation of wealth^[a] perishes too.
⁸^(E)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰^(F)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
¹¹By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but ^(G)by the mouth of the wicked ^(H)it is overthrown.
¹²Whoever ^(I)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³Whoever ^(J)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴Where there is ^(K)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(L)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵^(M)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶^(N)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(O)violent men get riches.
¹⁷^(P)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(Q)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(R)will live,
    but ^(S)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰Those of ^(T)crooked heart are ^(U)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(V)blameless ways are ^(W)his delight.
²¹^(X)Be assured, ^(Y)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(Z)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²²Like ^(AA)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(AB)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴^(AC)One gives ^(AD)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵^(AE)Whoever brings blessing ^(AF)will be enriched,
    and ^(AG)one who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶^(AH)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but ^(AI)a blessing is on the head of him who ^(AJ)sells it.
²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,^[b]
    but evil comes to ^(AK)him who searches for it.
²⁸Whoever ^(AL)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will ^(AM)flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹Whoever ^(AN)troubles his own household will ^(AO)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰The fruit of the righteous is ^(AP)a tree of life,
    and whoever ^(AQ)captures souls is wise.
³¹If ^(AR)the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who ^(AS)hates reproof is ^(AT)stupid.
²A good man ^(AU)obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
³No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of ^(AV)the righteous will never be moved.
⁴^(AW)An excellent wife is ^(AX)the crown of her husband,
    but she who ^(AY)brings shame is like ^(AZ)rottenness in his bones.
⁵^(BA)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
⁶The words of the wicked ^(BB)lie in wait for blood,
    but ^(BC)the mouth of the upright delivers them.
⁷^(BD)The wicked are ^(BE)overthrown and are no more,
    ^(BF)but the house of the righteous will stand.
⁸A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is ^(BG)despised.
⁹Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
¹⁰^(BH)Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
¹¹^(BI)Whoever works his land ^(BJ)will have plenty of bread,
    ^(BK)but he who follows ^(BL)worthless pursuits lacks sense.
¹²Whoever is wicked covets ^(BM)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³An evil man is ensnared ^(BN)by the transgression of his lips,^[c]
    ^(BO)but the righteous escapes from trouble.
¹⁴From the fruit of his mouth ^(BP)a man is satisfied with good,
    ^(BQ)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.
¹⁵^(BR)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
¹⁶^(BS)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
¹⁷^(BT)Whoever speaks^[d] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but ^(BU)a false witness utters deceit.
¹⁸^(BV)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings ^(BW)healing.
¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,
    but ^(BX)a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰Deceit is in the heart of ^(BY)those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.
²¹^(BZ)No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
²²^(CA)Lying lips are ^(CB)an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(CC)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
²³^(CD)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    ^(CE)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.