Proverbs 11
1 A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just weight is his will.
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
2 Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is, there also is wisdom.
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The simplicity of the just shall guide them: and the deceitfulness of the wicked shall destroy them.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
4 Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall deliver from death.
Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
5 The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous: and the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust shall be caught in their own snares.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
7 When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more: and the expectation of the solicitous shall perish.
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
8 The just is delivered out of distress: and the wicked shall be given up for him.
The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
9 The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge.
With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
10 When it goeth well with the just the city shall rejoice: and when the wicked perish 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 wicked it shall be overthrown.
By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He that despiseth his friend, is mean of heart: but the wise man will hold his peace.
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 He that walketh deceitfully, revealeth secrets: but he that is faithful, concealeth the thing committed to him by his friend.
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is safety where there is much counsel.
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
15 He shall be afflicted with evil, that is surety for a stranger: but he that is aware of the snares, 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 find glory: and the strong shall have riches.
A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel casteth off even his own kindred.
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18 The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth justice, there is a faithful reward.
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things, death.
Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in them that walk sincerely.
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 man shall not be innocent: but the seed 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 golden ring in a swine’s snout, a woman fair and foolish.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the just is all good: the expectation of the wicked is indignation.
The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
24 Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take away what is not their own, and are always in want.
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
25 The soul which blesseth, shall be made fat: and he that inebriateth, shall be inebriated also himself.
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 He that hideth up corn, shall be cursed among the people: but a blessing upon the head of them that sell.
The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
27 Well doth he rise early who seeketh good things; but he that seeketh after evil things shall be oppressed by them.
He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up as a green leaf.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
29 He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds: and the fool shall 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 man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth souls, is wise.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the just man receive in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner.
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
