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11 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    but an accurate weight is his delight.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
    but wisdom is with the humble.
The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,
    but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright saves them,
    but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.
When the wicked die, their hope perishes,
    and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.
The righteous are delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked get into it instead.
With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbours,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
    and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense,
    but an intelligent person remains silent.
13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
    but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[a] falls,
    but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety.
15 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,
    but there is safety in refusing to do so.
16 A gracious woman gets honour,
    but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.[b]
The timid become destitute,[c]
    but the aggressive gain riches.
17 Those who are kind reward themselves,
    but the cruel do themselves harm.
18 The wicked earn no real gain,
    but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
    but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21 Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will escape.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without good sense.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 Some give freely, yet grow all the richer;
    others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
25 A generous person will be enriched,
    and one who gives water will get water.
26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favour,
    but evil comes to the one who searches for it.
28 Those who trust in their riches will wither,[d]
    but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    but violence[e] takes lives away.
31 If the righteous are repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:14 Or an army
  2. Proverbs 11:16 Compare Gk Syr: Heb lacks but she . . . shame
  3. Proverbs 11:16 Gk: Heb lacks The timid . . . destitute
  4. Proverbs 11:28 Cn: Heb fall
  5. Proverbs 11:30 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb a wise man

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