Proverbs 11
1 Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
When pride comes, then comes shame: but with the lowly is 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 shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers 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 perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked 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 righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
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 man dies, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perishes.
8 The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead.
9 With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
An hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
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 goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
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 the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
He that is void of wisdom despises his neighbor: but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
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 no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hates indebtedness is sure.
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 retains honor: and strong men retain riches.
17 The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
The wicked works a deceitful work: but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
As righteousness tends to life: so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
They that are of a fraudulent heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21 Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without 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 is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is 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.
There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.
25 He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered 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 withholds corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be on the head of him that 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 that diligently seeks good procures favor: but he that seeks mischief, it shall come to him.
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 trusts in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
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 troubles his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall 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 that wins souls is wise.
31 If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
