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