Proverbs 11
English Standard Version
11 (A)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
(B)but a just weight is his delight.
2 (C)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with (D)the humble is wisdom.
3 (E)The integrity of the upright guides them,
(F)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 (G)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
(H)but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless (I)keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6 (J)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous (K)are taken captive by their lust.
7 When the wicked dies, his (L)hope will perish,
and (M)the expectation of wealth[a] perishes too.
8 (N)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 (O)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 (P)by the mouth of the wicked (Q)it is overthrown.
12 Whoever (R)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Whoever (S)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14 Where there is (T)no guidance, a people falls,
(U)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15 (V)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 (W)A gracious woman gets honor,
and (X)violent men get riches.
17 (Y)A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who (Z)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness (AA)will live,
but (AB)he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of (AC)crooked heart are (AD)an abomination to the Lord,
but those of (AE)blameless ways are (AF)his delight.
21 (AG)Be assured, (AH)an evil person will not go unpunished,
but (AI)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like (AJ)a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
(AK)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 (AL)One gives (AM)freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 (AN)Whoever brings blessing (AO)will be enriched,
and (AP)one who waters will himself be watered.
26 (AQ)The people curse him who holds back grain,
but (AR)a blessing is on the head of him who (AS)sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,[b]
but evil comes to (AT)him who searches for it.
28 Whoever (AU)trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will (AV)flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever (AW)troubles his own household will (AX)inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (AY)a tree of life,
and whoever (AZ)captures souls is wise.
31 If (BA)the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:7 Or of his strength, or of iniquity
- Proverbs 11:27 Or acceptance
Proverbs 11
New International Version - UK
11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favour with him.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.
8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.
9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbours,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
12 Whoever derides their neighbour has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but victory is won through many advisors.
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
16 A kind-hearted woman gains honour,
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.
19 Truly the righteous attain life,
but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Be sure of this: the wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.
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.
25 A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
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 favour,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 If the righteous receive their due 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
American Standard Version
11 [a]A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah;
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 the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath;
But righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall [b]direct his way;
But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them;
But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish;
And the hope of [c]iniquity perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble;
And the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor;
But through knowledge shall the righteous 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 despiseth his neighbor is void of [d]wisdom;
But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;
But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.
14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth;
But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger [e]shall smart for it;
But he that hateth [f]suretyship is secure.
16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor;
And violent men obtain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul;
But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages;
But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
19 [g]He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life;
And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.
20 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah;
But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
21 [h]Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished;
But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a fair woman that [i]is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good;
But the expectation of the wicked is [j]wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more;
And there is that withholdeth [k]more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat;
And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him;
But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor;
But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;
But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind;
And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;
And he that is wise winneth souls.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth;
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:1 Hebrew A balance of deceit.
- Proverbs 11:5 Or, make straight (or, plain)
- Proverbs 11:7 Or, strong men
- Proverbs 11:12 Hebrew heart.
- Proverbs 11:15 Hebrew shall be sore broken.
- Proverbs 11:15 Hebrew those that strike hands.
- Proverbs 11:19 Or, So righteousness tendeth to life, and he etc.
- Proverbs 11:21 Or, My hand upon it! Hebrew Hand to hand.
- Proverbs 11:22 Hebrew turneth aside from.
- Proverbs 11:23 Or, arrogance
- Proverbs 11:24 Or, what is justly due
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