Proverbs 11
1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah, but a just weight is his delight.
False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame, but with the lowly is wisdom.
Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
[Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. ]
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.
Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.
The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish, and the hope of iniquity perishes.
At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
8 A righteous man is delivered out of trouble, and a wicked man comes in his stead.
A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
9 The hypocrite destroys his neighbor with his mouth, but the righteous shall be delivered through knowledge.
In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
[At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]
12 He who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
13 He who goes around as a tale-bearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.
14 Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.
15 He who is surety for a stranger shall smart for it, but he who hates suretyship is secure.
A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
16 A gracious woman obtains honor, and aggressive men obtain riches.
A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour. The slothful come to lack: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.
18 A wicked man earns deceitful wages, but he who sows righteousness has a sure reward.
An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness comes to life, and he who pursues evil comes to his own death.
A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in death.
20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah, but such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.
21 Hand in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished, but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.
22 A ring of gold in a swine's snout, is a beautiful woman who is without discretion.
As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
24 There is he who scatters, and increases yet more, and there he is who withholds more than is proper, but only to want.
There are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.
25 The generous soul shall be made prosperous, and he who waters shall also be watered himself.
Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.
26 The people shall curse him who withholds grain, but a blessing shall be upon the head of him who sells it.
May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [it].
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
He that devises good [counsels] seeks good favour: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake him.
28 He who trusts in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.
29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. And a foolish man shall be servant to a wise man of heart.
He that deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.
30 The fruit of a righteous man is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.
Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.
31 Behold, a righteous man shall be recompensed in the earth, how much more the wicked man and the sinner!
If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
