Proverbs 11
1 Balances of deceit are an abomination of the Lord; but a full weight [obtaineth] his favor.
Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh disgrace; but with the modest there is wisdom.
When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
3 The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the cunning of the treacherous destroyeth them.
The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
4 Wealth cannot profit on the day of wrath; but righteousness deliver from death.
Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe 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 good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them; but through their own sinful desires are the treacherous caught.
The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
7 When a wicked man dieth, [his] hope vanisheth; and the expectation of his children is lost.
At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction.
8 The righteous is delivered out of distress, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
9 With his mouth doth the hypocrite destroy his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the town rejoiceth loudly: and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries 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 man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of sense; but a man of understanding maintaineth silence.
He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
13 He that walketh about as talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
14 Where there is no wise guidance, a people must fall: but [it will obtain] help through the multitude of counsellors.
When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
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 makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
16 A woman endowed with grace will surely obtain honor; and the powerful will obtain riches.
A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth.
17 The man of kindness doth good to his own soul; but he that troubleth his own flesh is cruel.
The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
18 The wicked practiseth a work of falsehood; but he that soweth righteousness [obtaineth] the reward of truth.
The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
19 He who is firm in righteousness attaineth to life: and he that pursueth evil [doth it] to his own death.
So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
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 uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error 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.
Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
22 As a golden ring in a swine's snout, so is a handsome woman that hath thrown off discretion.
Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the hope of the wicked is the wrath [of God].
The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
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.
A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need.
25 A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified; and he that refresheth [others] will be also refreshed himself.
He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
26 Him that withholdeth corn, the people will denounce; but blessing will be heaped upon the head of the one that selleth it.
He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.
27 He that diligently searcheth after good seeketh favor; but if one inquireth after evil, it will come unto him.
He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.
28 He that trusteth in his riches will surely fall; but the righteous shall grow like the leaves [of a tree].
He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.
29 He that troubleth his own house will inherit the wind; and the fool will become the servant to the wise of heart.
The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is of the tree of life, and the wise draweth souls to himself.
The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
31 Behold, the righteous is recompensed on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner.
If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
