Proverbs 11
1 A deceitful scale is an abomination with the Lord, and a fair weighing is his will.
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
2 Wherever arrogance may be, there too is insult. But wherever humility is, there too is wisdom.
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The simplicity of the just shall direct them, and the rebellion of the perverse will devastate them.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
4 Wealth will not profit in the day of vengeance. But justice shall liberate from death.
Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
5 The justice of the simple shall direct his way. And the impious will fall in his impiety.
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The justice of the upright shall free them. And the iniquitous will be seized by their own treachery.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
7 When the impious man is dead, there will no longer be any hope. And the expectation of the anxious will perish.
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
8 The just one is freed from anguish. And the impious one will be handed over instead of him.
The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
9 The pretender deceives his friend by mouth. But the just shall be freed by knowledge.
With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
10 In the good of the just, the city shall exult. And in the perdition of the impious, there shall be praise.
When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 By the blessing of the just, the city shall be exalted. And by the mouth of the impious, it will be subverted.
By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 Whoever despises his friend is destitute in heart. But the prudent man will remain silent.
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Whoever walks dishonestly reveals secrets. But whoever is of a faithful soul conceals what is confided by a friend.
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Where there is no governor, the people shall fall. But where there is much counsel, well-being shall be.
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
15 He will be afflicted with evil, who provides a guarantee for an outsider. But whoever is wary of traps shall be secure.
He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
16 A gracious woman shall discover glory. And the robust will have wealth.
A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 A merciful man benefits his own soul. But whoever is cruel casts out even his close relatives.
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18 The impious does work with inconstancy. But for the sower of justice, there is the reward of faithfulness.
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Clemency prepares life. And the pursuit of evils prepares death.
Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 A depraved heart is abominable to the Lord. And his will is with those who walk in simplicity.
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21 Hand in hand, the evil shall not be innocent. But the offspring of the just shall be saved.
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22 A beautiful and senseless woman is like a gold ring in the snout of a swine.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the just is entirely good. The anticipation of the impious is fury.
The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
24 Some distribute their own goods, and they become wealthier. Others seize what is not their own, and they are always in need.
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
25 The soul that blesses shall be made fat. And whoever inebriates will likewise be inebriated himself.
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 Whoever hides away grain shall be cursed among the people. But a blessing is upon the head of those who sell it.
The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
27 He does well to rise early, who seeks what is good. But whoever is a seeker of evils shall be oppressed by them.
He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall. But the just shall spring up like a green leaf.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
29 Whoever troubles his own house will possess the winds. And whoever is foolish will serve the wise.
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 the just one is the tree of life. And whoever receives souls is wise.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the just are repaid upon the earth, how much more the impious and the sinner!
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
