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The Value of Righteousness

11 The Lord hates false scales,
but he delights in accurate weights.

When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it,
    but humility is present with wisdom.
The integrity of the righteous guides them,
    but the hypocrisy of the treacherous destroys them.
Wealth won’t help in the time of judgment,[a]
    but righteousness will deliver from death.

The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path,
    but the wicked fall by their wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous are trapped by their evil desires.

When a wicked person dies, his hope vanishes;[b]
    and what he[c] expected from his scheming comes to nothing.
The righteous person is delivered from trouble;
    it comes upon the wicked instead.
By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

10 The city rejoices when the righteous prosper,
    and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.
11 Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up,
    but what the wicked say tears it down.

12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but the discerning man controls his comments.
13 Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets,
    but the trustworthy person[d] keeps a confidence.

14 A nation falls through a lack of guidance,
    but victory comes through the counsel of many.[e]

15 Securing a loan for a stranger will bring suffering,
    but by refusing to do so, one remains safe.

16 A gracious woman attains honor,[f]
    but[g] ruthless men attain[h] wealth.
17 A gracious man benefits himself,
    but the cruel person damages himself.

18 Evil people earn deceptive wages,
    but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,
    but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 Devious minds are abhorrent to the Lord,
    but those whose ways are innocent are his delight.
21 Be sure of this:[i] the wicked will not go unpunished,
    but the descendants of the righteous will go free.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is to seek good,
    but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

24 Those who give freely gain even more;
    others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.
25 A generous person will prosper,
    and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.
26 People will curse whoever withholds grain,
    but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

27 The person seeking good will find favor,
    but anyone who searches for evil—it will find him!

28 The person who trusts in his wealth will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is[j] a tree of life,
    and the one who wins people is wise.[k]
31 If the righteous receive what they are due here on earth,
    how much more will the wicked and the sinner.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:4 Lit. the day of wrath
  2. Proverbs 11:7 So MT; LXX reads When a righteous man dies, his hope does not perish
  3. Proverbs 11:7 So MT; LXX reads what the ungodly
  4. Proverbs 11:13 Lit. trustworthy in spirit
  5. Proverbs 11:14 Or through much planning
  6. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads honor for her husband
  7. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads but a seat of dishonor is for the woman who hates justice
  8. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads justice. The deficient shrink from wealth, but the diligent support themselves with
  9. Proverbs 11:21 Lit. Hand to hand
  10. Proverbs 11:30 So MT; LXX reads From the fruit of righteousness grows
  11. Proverbs 11:30 So MT; LXX reads life, but the souls of those who practice evil are cut off prematurely

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