Proverbs 11

₁A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

but a just weight is his delight.

₂When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with the humble is wisdom.

₃The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

₄Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.

₅The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,

but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

₆The righteousness of the upright delivers them,

but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

₇When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,

and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

₈The righteous is delivered from trouble,

and the wicked walks into it instead.

₉With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

₁₀When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

₁₁By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

₁₂Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

₁₃Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,

but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

₁₄Where there is no guidance, a people falls,

but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

₁₅Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,

but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

₁₆A gracious woman gets honor,

and violent men get riches.

₁₇A man who is kind benefits himself,

but a cruel man hurts himself.

₁₈The wicked earns deceptive wages,

but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

₁₉Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,

but he who pursues evil will die.

₂₀Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,

but those of blameless ways are his delight.

₂₁Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

₂₂Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout

is a beautiful woman without discretion.

₂₃The desire of the righteous ends only in good;

the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

₂₄One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;

another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

₂₅Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,

and one who waters will himself be watered.

₂₆The people curse him who holds back grain,

but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

₂₇Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,

but evil comes to him who searches for it.

₂₈Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

₂₉Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

₃₀The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

and whoever captures souls is wise.

₃₁If the righteous is repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!