Proverbs 11
1 Balances of deceit are an abomination of the Lord; but a full weight [obtaineth] his favor.
False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh disgrace; but with the modest there is wisdom.
Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the cunning of the treacherous destroyeth them.
When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
4 Wealth cannot profit on the day of wrath; but righteousness deliver from death.
[Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. ]
5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh even his way; but by his own wickedness will the wicked fall.
Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them; but through their own sinful desires are the treacherous caught.
The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
7 When a wicked man dieth, [his] hope vanisheth; and the expectation of his children is lost.
At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered out of distress, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
9 With his mouth doth the hypocrite destroy his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.
In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the town rejoiceth loudly: and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but through the mouth of the wicked it is pulled down.
[At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]
12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of sense; but a man of understanding maintaineth silence.
A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
13 He that walketh about as talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.
14 Where there is no wise guidance, a people must fall: but [it will obtain] help through the multitude of counsellors.
They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.
15 With evil will he be overwhelmed that is surety for a stranger: but he that hateth giving the hand as pledge is safe.
A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
16 A woman endowed with grace will surely obtain honor; and the powerful will obtain riches.
A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour. The slothful come to lack: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.
17 The man of kindness doth good to his own soul; but he that troubleth his own flesh is cruel.
A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.
18 The wicked practiseth a work of falsehood; but he that soweth righteousness [obtaineth] the reward of truth.
An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
19 He who is firm in righteousness attaineth to life: and he that pursueth evil [doth it] to his own death.
A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in 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.
Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.
21 The hand [of God] being against [his] hand, the bad man shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.
22 As a golden ring in a swine's snout, so is a handsome woman that hath thrown off discretion.
As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the hope of the wicked is the wrath [of God].
All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
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.
There are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.
25 A beneficent soul will be abundantly gratified; and he that refresheth [others] will be also refreshed himself.
Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.
26 Him that withholdeth corn, the people will denounce; but blessing will be heaped upon the head of the one that selleth it.
May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [it].
27 He that diligently searcheth after good seeketh favor; but if one inquireth after evil, it will come unto him.
He that devises good [counsels] seeks good favour: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches will surely fall; but the righteous shall grow like the leaves [of a tree].
He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.
29 He that troubleth his own house will inherit the wind; and the fool will become the servant to the wise of heart.
He that deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.
30 The fruit of the righteous is of the tree of life, and the wise draweth souls to himself.
Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.
31 Behold, the righteous is recompensed on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner.
If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
