Proverbs 11
1 The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
2 With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
4 Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.
Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
5 The goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their 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 delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
7 When a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
8 The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.
The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
9 Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.
With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
10 The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.
When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.
By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
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 puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
16 A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.
A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18 The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.
Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21 You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22 A beautiful woman who lacks good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.
The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
24 If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
25 If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.
The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one 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 searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
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 will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
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 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 good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
