Proverbs 11
1 Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.
2 When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
With pride comes disgrace, 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.
Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.
4 Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you 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 goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, 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 goodness of those who live right will save them, but the dishonest 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 a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.
8 The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.
9 With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.
10 When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries 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 man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.
12 He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.
13 He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.
14 When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.
15 He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
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 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 holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.
17 The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.
18 The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.
19 So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.
20 The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.
21 Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.
22 Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
A beautiful woman who lacks good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
23 The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.
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.
If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.
25 He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.
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.
People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who 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.
If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find 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.
If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.
29 The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
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 righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
The fruit of the good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people.
31 If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!
