Proverbs 11
1 The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: 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 transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.
Riches profit not 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 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 transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
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 unjust men perishes.
8 The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead.
9 Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.
An hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
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 that is void of wisdom despises his neighbor: but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.
A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
14 A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors 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 that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hates indebtedness is sure.
16 A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.
A gracious woman retains honor: and strong men retain 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 that is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.
The wicked works a deceitful work: but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.
As righteousness tends to life: so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.
They that are of a fraudulent heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright 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.
Though hand join in hand, the wicked 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.
As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which 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: but 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 that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.
25 If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself.
26 People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.
He that withholds corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be on the head of him that sells it.
27 If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find it!
He that diligently seeks good procures favor: but he that seeks mischief, 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 that trusts in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
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 that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall 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 that wins souls is wise.
31 If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
