Proverbs 11
1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.
2 When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.
4 Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
The goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
The goodness of those who live right will save them, but the dishonest are trapped by their own desires.
7 When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
When a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.
8 The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.
9 With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.
10 When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.
12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.
13 A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.
14 For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.
15 He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
You'll get into trouble if you guarantee a stranger's loans—you're far safer if you refuse to make such pledges.
16 A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.
17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.
18 The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.
21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
A beautiful woman who lacks good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
23 The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.
24 One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.
25 A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.
26 The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.
27 He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find it!
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.
29 He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
If you cause trouble in your family, you'll inherit nothing but air. Stupid people end up as servants to those who think wisely.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
The fruit of the good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people.
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!
