Proverbs 11:7-12:12

English Standard Version

⁷When the wicked dies, his ^(A)hope will perish,
    and ^(B)the expectation of wealth^[a] perishes too.
⁸^(C)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^(D)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 ^(E)by the mouth of the wicked ^(F)it is overthrown.
¹²Whoever ^(G)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³Whoever ^(H)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴Where there is ^(I)no guidance, a people falls,
    ^(J)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵^(K)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶^(L)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and ^(M)violent men get riches.
¹⁷^(N)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who ^(O)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^(P)will live,
    but ^(Q)he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰Those of ^(R)crooked heart are ^(S)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of ^(T)blameless ways are ^(U)his delight.
²¹^(V)Be assured, ^(W)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but ^(X)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²²Like ^(Y)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    ^(Z)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴^(AA)One gives ^(AB)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵^(AC)Whoever brings blessing ^(AD)will be enriched,
    and ^(AE)one who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶^(AF)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but ^(AG)a blessing is on the head of him who ^(AH)sells it.
²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,^[b]
    but evil comes to ^(AI)him who searches for it.
²⁸Whoever ^(AJ)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will ^(AK)flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹Whoever ^(AL)troubles his own household will ^(AM)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰The fruit of the righteous is ^(AN)a tree of life,
    and whoever ^(AO)captures souls is wise.
³¹If ^(AP)the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who ^(AQ)hates reproof is ^(AR)stupid.
²A good man ^(AS)obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
³No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of ^(AT)the righteous will never be moved.
⁴^(AU)An excellent wife is ^(AV)the crown of her husband,
    but she who ^(AW)brings shame is like ^(AX)rottenness in his bones.
⁵^(AY)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
⁶The words of the wicked ^(AZ)lie in wait for blood,
    but ^(BA)the mouth of the upright delivers them.
⁷^(BB)The wicked are ^(BC)overthrown and are no more,
    ^(BD)but the house of the righteous will stand.
⁸A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is ^(BE)despised.
⁹Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
¹⁰^(BF)Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
¹¹^(BG)Whoever works his land ^(BH)will have plenty of bread,
    ^(BI)but he who follows ^(BJ)worthless pursuits lacks sense.
¹²Whoever is wicked covets ^(BK)the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.