Proverbs 11
1 Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just weight is his will.
2 When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is, there also is wisdom.
3 The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
The simplicity of the just shall guide them: and the deceitfulness of the wicked shall destroy them.
4 Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall deliver 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 justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous: and the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust shall be caught in their own snares.
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 is dead, there shall be no hope any more: and the expectation of the solicitous shall perish.
8 The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
The just is delivered out of distress: and the wicked shall be given up for him.
9 With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge.
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 it goeth well with the just the city shall rejoice: and when the wicked perish there shall be praise.
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 just the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the wicked it shall be overthrown.
12 He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
He that despiseth his friend, is mean of heart: but the wise man will hold his peace.
13 He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
He that walketh deceitfully, revealeth secrets: but he that is faithful, concealeth the thing committed to him by his friend.
14 When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is safety where there is much counsel.
15 He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
He shall be afflicted with evil, that is surety for a stranger: but he that is aware of the snares, shall be 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 shall find glory: and the strong shall have riches.
17 The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel casteth off even his own kindred.
18 The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth justice, there is a faithful reward.
19 So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things, death.
20 The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in them that walk sincerely.
21 Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
Hand in hand the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of the just shall be saved.
22 Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
A golden ring in a swine’s snout, a woman fair and foolish.
23 The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
The desire of the just is all good: the expectation of the wicked is indignation.
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.
Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take away what is not their own, and are always in want.
25 He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
The soul which blesseth, shall be made fat: and he that inebriateth, shall be inebriated also himself.
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.
He that hideth up corn, shall be cursed among the people: but a blessing upon the head of them that sell.
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.
Well doth he rise early who seeketh good things; but he that seeketh after evil things shall be oppressed by them.
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 that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up as a green leaf.
29 The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds: and the fool shall serve the wise.
30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
The fruit of the just man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth souls, is wise.
31 If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
If the just man receive in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner.
