Proverbs 11
1 The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.
A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah, but a just weight is his delight.
2 With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The goodness of those who live right will save them, but the dishonest are trapped by their own desires.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.
7 When a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.
When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish, and the hope of iniquity perishes.
8 The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.
A righteous man is delivered out of trouble, and a wicked man comes in his stead.
9 Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.
The hypocrite destroys his neighbor with his mouth, but the righteous shall be delivered through knowledge.
10 The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.
He who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.
He who goes around as a tale-bearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
14 A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.
Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15 You'll get into trouble if you guarantee a stranger's loans—you're far safer if you refuse to make such pledges.
He who is surety for a stranger shall smart for it, but he who hates suretyship is secure.
16 A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.
A gracious woman obtains honor, and aggressive men obtain riches.
17 If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.
A wicked man earns deceitful wages, but he who sows righteousness has a sure reward.
19 Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.
He who is steadfast in righteousness comes to life, and he who pursues evil comes to his own death.
20 The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah, but such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
21 You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.
Hand in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished, but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 A beautiful woman who lacks good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
A ring of gold in a swine's snout, is a beautiful woman who is without discretion.
23 Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.
There is he who scatters, and increases yet more, and there he is who withholds more than is proper, but only to want.
25 If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.
The generous soul shall be made prosperous, and he who waters shall also be watered himself.
26 People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.
The people shall curse him who withholds grain, but a blessing shall be upon the head of him who sells it.
27 If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find it!
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.
He who trusts in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 If you cause trouble in your family, you'll inherit nothing but air. Stupid people end up as servants to those who think wisely.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. And a foolish man shall be servant to a wise man of heart.
30 The fruit of the good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people.
The fruit of a righteous man is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.
31 If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!
Behold, a righteous man shall be recompensed in the earth, how much more the wicked man and the sinner!
