Proverbs 11
1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
4 Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
7 When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction.
8 The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
9 With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
10 When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
13 A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
14 For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
15 He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
16 A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth.
17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
18 The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
23 The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
24 One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need.
25 A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
26 The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.
27 He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.
29 He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
