Proverbs 11
1 A deceitful scale is an abomination with the Lord, and a fair weighing is his will.
Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
2 Wherever arrogance may be, there too is insult. But wherever humility is, there too is wisdom.
When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
3 The simplicity of the just shall direct them, and the rebellion of the perverse will devastate them.
The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
4 Wealth will not profit in the day of vengeance. But justice shall liberate from death.
Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
5 The justice of the simple shall direct his way. And the impious will fall in his impiety.
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.
6 The justice of the upright shall free them. And the iniquitous will be seized by their own treachery.
The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
7 When the impious man is dead, there will no longer be any hope. And the expectation of the anxious will perish.
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.
8 The just one is freed from anguish. And the impious one will be handed over instead of him.
The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
9 The pretender deceives his friend by mouth. But the just shall be freed by knowledge.
With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
10 In the good of the just, the city shall exult. And in the perdition of the impious, there shall be praise.
When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries 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 man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
12 Whoever despises his friend is destitute in heart. But the prudent man will remain silent.
He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
13 Whoever walks dishonestly reveals secrets. But whoever is of a faithful soul conceals what is confided by a friend.
He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
14 Where there is no governor, the people shall fall. But where there is much counsel, well-being shall be.
When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
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 makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
16 A gracious woman shall discover glory. And the robust will have wealth.
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.
17 A merciful man benefits his own soul. But whoever is cruel casts out even his close relatives.
The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
18 The impious does work with inconstancy. But for the sower of justice, there is the reward of faithfulness.
The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
19 Clemency prepares life. And the pursuit of evils prepares death.
So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
20 A depraved heart is abominable to the Lord. And his will is with those who walk in simplicity.
The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
21 Hand in hand, the evil shall not be innocent. But the offspring of the just shall be saved.
Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
22 A beautiful and senseless woman is like a gold ring in the snout of a swine.
Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
23 The desire of the just is entirely good. The anticipation of the impious is fury.
The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
24 Some distribute their own goods, and they become wealthier. Others seize what is not their own, and they are always in need.
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.
25 The soul that blesses shall be made fat. And whoever inebriates will likewise be inebriated himself.
He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
26 Whoever hides away grain shall be cursed among the people. But a blessing is upon the head of those who sell it.
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.
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, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall. But the just shall spring up like a green leaf.
He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.
29 Whoever troubles his own house will possess the winds. And whoever is foolish will serve the wise.
The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the just one is the tree of life. And whoever receives souls is wise.
The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
31 If the just are repaid upon the earth, how much more the impious and the sinner!
If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
