Add parallel Print Page Options

11 Balances of deceit are an abomination of Yahweh,
    but an accurate weight[a] delights him.
Pride comes, then disgrace comes,
    but wisdom is with the humble.
The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath,
    but righteousness will deliver from death.
The righteousness of the blameless will keep his ways straight,
    but the wicked will fall by his wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright will save them,
    but by a scheme the treacherous will be taken captive.
With the death of a wicked person, hope will die,
    and the expectation of the godless perishes.
The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    but the wicked enters into it.
With a mouth, the godless shall destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When good is with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and with the perishing of the wicked, jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright, a city will be exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked, it will be overthrown.
12 He who lacks sense[b] belittles his neighbor,
    but a person of intelligence will remain silent.
13 A gossip walks about telling a secret,
    but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[c] shall fall,
    but there is safety in an abundance of counsel.
15 He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger,
    but he who refuses a pledge is safe.
16 A woman of grace receives honor,
    but the ruthless gets wealth.
17 A person of kindness rewards himself,[d]
    but a cruel person harms his own flesh.
18 The wicked earns[e] deceptive gain,[f]
    but he who sows righteousness, a true reward.[g]
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness is to life
    as[h] he who pursues evil is to death.
20 An abomination of Yahweh are the crooked of heart,[i]
    but his delight are those with blameless ways.[j]
21 Rest assured,[k] the wicked will not go unpunished,
    but the offspring[l] of the righteous will escape.
22 A ring of gold in the snout of a pig
    is a woman who is beautiful but without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
    but the expectation of the wicked, wrath.
24 There is one who gives yet grows richer,[m]
    but he who withholds what is right[n] only finds need.
25 A person of blessing will be enriched,
    and he who gives water also will be refreshed.
26 He who withholds grain, the people curse him,
    but a blessing is for the head of him who sells.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but he who inquires of evil, it will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his wealth is he who will fall,
    but like a green leaf the righteous will flourish.
29 He who brings trouble to his household, he will inherit wind,[o]
    and a fool will serve the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life,
    and he who captures souls[p] is wise.
31 If the righteous on earth will be repaid,
    how much more[q] the wicked and sinner.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:1 Literally “a full stone” or “a pure stone”
  2. Proverbs 11:12 Literally “heart”
  3. Proverbs 11:14 Or “people”
  4. Proverbs 11:17 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  5. Proverbs 11:18 Or “does, makes”
  6. Proverbs 11:18 Literally “gain of deception”
  7. Proverbs 11:18 Literally “a reward of truth”
  8. Proverbs 11:19 Hebrew “and”
  9. Proverbs 11:20 Literally “crooked ones of heart”; “heart” may also be translated “mind”
  10. Proverbs 11:20 Literally “blameless ones of ways”
  11. Proverbs 11:21 Literally “Hand to hand”
  12. Proverbs 11:21 Or “seed”
  13. Proverbs 11:24 Literally “adding more”
  14. Proverbs 11:24 Literally “from what is right”
  15. Proverbs 11:29 Or “breath, spirit”
  16. Proverbs 11:30 Or “persons,” or “inner selves”
  17. Proverbs 11:31 Literally “more for”

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(C)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(D)

The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(E)

Wealth(F) is worthless in the day of wrath,(G)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(H)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(K)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(L)
    all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.(M)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(O)

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;(P)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.(Q)

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(R)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(S)

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(T)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(U)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(V)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(W)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(X)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(Y)

15 Whoever puts up security(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(AA)

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(AB)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(AC)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(AD)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(AE)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(AF)
    but he delights(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.(AH)

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.(AI)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(AJ) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(AK)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(AL)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(AM)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(AN)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(AO)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AP)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

31 If the righteous receive their due(AQ) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from