Proverbs 11
1 Balances of deceit are an abomination of the Lord; but a full weight [obtaineth] his favor.
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh disgrace; but with the modest there is wisdom.
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the cunning of the treacherous destroyeth them.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
4 Wealth cannot profit on the day of wrath; but righteousness deliver from death.
Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh even his way; but by his own wickedness will the wicked fall.
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them; but through their own sinful desires are the treacherous caught.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
7 When a wicked man dieth, [his] hope vanisheth; and the expectation of his children is lost.
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
8 The righteous is delivered out of distress, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.
9 With his mouth doth the hypocrite destroy his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the town rejoiceth loudly: and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but through the mouth of the wicked it is pulled down.
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 neighbor is void of sense; but a man of understanding maintaineth silence.
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 He that walketh about as talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Where there is no wise guidance, a people must fall: but [it will obtain] help through the multitude of counsellors.
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
15 With evil will he be overwhelmed that is surety for a stranger: but he that hateth giving the hand as pledge is safe.
He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
16 A woman endowed with grace will surely obtain honor; and the powerful will obtain riches.
A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 The man of kindness doth good to his own soul; but he that troubleth his own flesh is cruel.
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18 The wicked practiseth a work of falsehood; but he that soweth righteousness [obtaineth] the reward of truth.
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 He who is firm in righteousness attaineth to life: and he that pursueth evil [doth it] to his own death.
Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 An abomination of the Lord are those of a perverse heart; but his favor is for those who are unblemished in their way.
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21 The hand [of God] being against [his] hand, the bad man shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22 As a golden ring in a swine's snout, so is a handsome woman that hath thrown off discretion.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the hope of the wicked is the wrath [of God].
The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
24 There is a man that scattereth gifts, and yet his wealth is increased: and there is one that withholdeth more than is proper, and still cometh only to want.
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
25 A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified; and he that refresheth [others] will be also refreshed himself.
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 Him that withholdeth corn, the people will denounce; but blessing will be heaped upon the head of the one that selleth it.
The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
27 He that diligently searcheth after good seeketh favor; but if one inquireth after evil, it will come unto him.
He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
28 He that trusteth in his riches will surely fall; but the righteous shall grow like the leaves [of a tree].
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
29 He that troubleth his own house will inherit the wind; and the fool will become the servant to the wise of heart.
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 righteous is of the tree of life, and the wise draweth souls to himself.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous is recompensed on 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!
