Proverbs 11

¹Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.

²When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.

³The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.

⁴Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.

⁵The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.

⁶The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.

⁷At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction.

⁸The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.

⁹With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.

¹⁰When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.

¹¹By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.

¹²He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.

¹³He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.

¹⁴When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.

¹⁵He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.

¹⁶A 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.

¹⁷The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.

¹⁸The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.

¹⁹So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.

²⁰The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight

²¹Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.

²²Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.

²³The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.

²⁴A 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.

²⁵He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.

²⁶He 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.

²⁷He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.

²⁸He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.

²⁹The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.

³⁰The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.

³¹If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!

Proverbs 11

¹A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but accurate weights are his delight.

²When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.

³The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

⁴Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

⁵The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.

⁷When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.

⁸A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.

⁹With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.

¹⁰When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.

¹¹By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹²One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

¹³One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

¹⁴Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.

¹⁵He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

¹⁶A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.

¹⁷The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

¹⁸Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

¹⁹He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.

²⁰Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

²¹Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the seed of the righteous will be delivered.

²²Like a gold ring in a pig's snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

²³The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.

²⁴There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.

²⁵The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.

²⁶People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

²⁷He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.

²⁸He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

²⁹He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.

³¹Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!