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Proverbs 11
Lexham English Bible
Proverbs 11
Lexham English Bible
11 Balances of deceit are an abomination of Yahweh,
but an accurate weight[a] delights him.
2 Pride comes, then disgrace comes,
but wisdom is with the humble.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath,
but righteousness will deliver from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will keep his ways straight,
but the wicked will fall by his wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will save them,
but by a scheme the treacherous will be taken captive.
7 With the death of a wicked person, hope will die,
and the expectation of the godless perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
but the wicked enters into it.
9 With a mouth, the godless shall destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When good is with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and with the perishing of the wicked, jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright, a city will be exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked, it will be overthrown.
12 He who lacks sense[b] belittles his neighbor,
but a person of intelligence will remain silent.
13 A gossip walks about telling a secret,
but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[c] shall fall,
but there is safety in an abundance of counsel.
15 He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger,
but he who refuses a pledge is safe.
16 A woman of grace receives honor,
but the ruthless gets wealth.
17 A person of kindness rewards himself,[d]
but a cruel person harms his own flesh.
18 The wicked earns[e] deceptive gain,[f]
but he who sows righteousness, a true reward.[g]
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness is to life
as[h] he who pursues evil is to death.
20 An abomination of Yahweh are the crooked of heart,[i]
but his delight are those with blameless ways.[j]
21 Rest assured,[k] the wicked will not go unpunished,
but the offspring[l] of the righteous will escape.
22 A ring of gold in the snout of a pig
is a woman who is beautiful but without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the expectation of the wicked, wrath.
24 There is one who gives yet grows richer,[m]
but he who withholds what is right[n] only finds need.
25 A person of blessing will be enriched,
and he who gives water also will be refreshed.
26 He who withholds grain, the people curse him,
but a blessing is for the head of him who sells.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but he who inquires of evil, it will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his wealth is he who will fall,
but like a green leaf the righteous will flourish.
29 He who brings trouble to his household, he will inherit wind,[o]
and a fool will serve the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life,
and he who captures souls[p] is wise.
31 If the righteous on earth will be repaid,
how much more[q] the wicked and sinner.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:1 Literally “a full stone” or “a pure stone”
- Proverbs 11:12 Literally “heart”
- Proverbs 11:14 Or “people”
- Proverbs 11:17 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 11:18 Or “does, makes”
- Proverbs 11:18 Literally “gain of deception”
- Proverbs 11:18 Literally “a reward of truth”
- Proverbs 11:19 Hebrew “and”
- Proverbs 11:20 Literally “crooked ones of heart”; “heart” may also be translated “mind”
- Proverbs 11:20 Literally “blameless ones of ways”
- Proverbs 11:21 Literally “Hand to hand”
- Proverbs 11:21 Or “seed”
- Proverbs 11:24 Literally “adding more”
- Proverbs 11:24 Literally “from what is right”
- Proverbs 11:29 Or “breath, spirit”
- Proverbs 11:30 Or “persons,” or “inner selves”
- Proverbs 11:31 Literally “more for”
Proverbs 11
The Voice
Proverbs 11
The Voice
11 Dishonesty in business disgusts the Eternal,
but fair dealing delights Him.
Business may well be the most common human activity, so God cares deeply about how we conduct our business. Many proverbs address honesty in all forms of business—buying, selling, negotiating, transacting, and working. All of these depend on trust. Deceit in business causes many people to suffer. In fact, world economies and all our livelihoods depend in large measure on truthfulness, honesty, and fair dealings in the market.
2 When pride comes, shame is not far behind,
but wisdom accompanies those who are humble.
3 The right-living are guided by integrity,
but the crooked ways of the faithless will lead to ruin.
4 Riches won’t matter on the day of wrath,
but right living will rescue from death.
5 The good deeds of the blameless pave a peaceful, productive path,
but wrongdoers trip over their own faults.
6 The good deeds of the upright will rescue them,
but the faithless will be conquered by their shallow desires.
7 When wrongdoers die, their hopes die with them.
Their great expectations vanish into nothing more than a dream.
8 Those who do right are pulled from trouble;
it falls on wrongdoers instead who are left to sink in their own problems.
9 The words of the godless ruin those close to them,
but through insight the right-living are spared.
10 When prosperity comes to those who do right, the whole city celebrates;
but when the wicked get their just punishment, there is joyous cheering.
11 A city thrives through the blessing of those living right,
but the words of a wrongdoer will bring it to ruin.
12 Whoever puts down another is not wise,
but one who knows better keeps quiet.
13 A gossip can’t keep anything confidential,
but a reliable person protects a secret.
14 Without wise guidance, a nation falls;
but victory is certain when there are plenty of wise counselors.
15 Trouble compounds when you guarantee a stranger’s debt,
but you’ll be safe if you refuse the pledge.
16 A gracious woman acquires honor,
but cruel people are only interested in acquiring money.
17 Kindness is its own reward,
but cruelty is a self-inflicted wound.
18 The wicked earn a living by deception,
but the one who plants righteousness gathers a true harvest.
19 Indeed, those who do what is right will live a good life,
but those who pursue evil will die.
20 The Eternal detests a crooked heart and a warped mind,
but He takes great pleasure in those who follow the right way.
21 Certainly those who do wrong will not escape punishment,
but those who do right will go free.
22 Much like a gold ring in the snout of a pig,
so is a beautiful woman who lacks good judgment.
23 Those who live right crave what is good,
but the prospect of wrongdoers is wrath.
24 One shares liberally and yet gains even more,
while another hoards more than is right and still has need.
25 A giving person will receive much in return,
and someone who gives water will also receive the water he needs.
Generosity places God’s gifts and blessings into circulation. The principle is simply stated: by giving we receive. This may seem counterintuitive, but it is how God’s economy works. As Jesus said, “Don’t hold back—give freely, and you’ll have plenty poured back into your lap—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, brimming over. You’ll receive in the same measure you give” (Luke 6:38).
26 Curses fall upon those who hoard food,
but blessings come to those who sell food.
27 Those who seek good find the goodwill of others,
but those who look for evil are sure to find it.
28 Those who trust in their wealth are headed for great disappointment,
but those who do right will sprout like green leaves in the spring.
29 A person who stirs up trouble in his family will inherit stormy winds,
and foolish troublers will end up serving the wise.
30 The tree of life grows where the fruit of right-living falls,
and whoever wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous can expect to be repaid on earth,
how much more can the ungodly and the sinners?
Proverbs 11
New International Version
Proverbs 11
New International Version
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(E)
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(K)
8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)
9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.(O)
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(P)
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(Q)
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(R)
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(S)
12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(T)
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(U)
15 Whoever puts up security(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(AA)
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(AB)
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(AC)
20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(AF)
but he delights(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.(AH)
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.(AI)
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.(AL)
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(AM)
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(AN)
29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.(AO)
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AP)
and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 If the righteous receive their due(AQ) on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from
Proverbs 11
King James Version
Proverbs 11
King James Version
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Proverbs 11
New King James Version
Proverbs 11
New King James Version
The Folly of Wickedness
2 When pride comes, then comes (B)shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide (C)them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4 (D)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But (E)righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will [c]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own (F)wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will (G)perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8 (H)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 (I)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is (J)exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who [d]is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.
14 (M)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17 (O)The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked man does deceptive work,
But (P)he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to (Q)life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own (R)death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21 (S)Though they join [g]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But (T)the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks [h]discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked (U)is wrath.
24 There is one who (V)scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25 (W)The generous soul will be made rich,
(X)And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26 The people will curse (Y)him who withholds grain,
But (Z)blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
29 He who troubles his own house (AD)will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be (AE)servant to the wise of heart.
31 (AG)If the righteous will be [k]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:1 deceptive
- Proverbs 11:1 Lit. perfect stone
- Proverbs 11:5 Or make smooth or straight
- Proverbs 11:12 Lit. lacks heart
- Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
- Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit. hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:22 taste
- Proverbs 11:27 Lit. seeks
- Proverbs 11:30 Lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf. 1 Sam. 16:11
- Proverbs 11:31 rewarded
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The Voice (VOICE)
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.