Proverbs 11
1 A deceitful scale is an abomination with the Lord, and a fair weighing is his will.
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD; but a perfect weight is His delight.
2 Wherever arrogance may be, there too is insult. But wherever humility is, there too is wisdom.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The simplicity of the just shall direct them, and the rebellion of the perverse will devastate them.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them; but the perverseness of the faithless shall destroy them.
4 Wealth will not profit in the day of vengeance. But justice shall liberate from death.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The justice of the simple shall direct his way. And the impious will fall in his impiety.
The righteousness of the sincere shall make straight his way; but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The justice of the upright shall free them. And the iniquitous will be seized by their own treachery.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; but the faithless shall be trapped in their own crafty device.
7 When the impious man is dead, there will no longer be any hope. And the expectation of the anxious will perish.
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish, and the hope of strength perisheth.
8 The just one is freed from anguish. And the impious one will be handed over instead of him.
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 The pretender deceives his friend by mouth. But the just shall be freed by knowledge.
With his mouth the impious man destroyeth his neighbour; but through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
10 In the good of the just, the city shall exult. And in the perdition of the impious, there shall be praise.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and when the wicked perish, there is joy.
11 By the blessing of the just, the city shall be exalted. And by the mouth of the impious, it will be subverted.
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Whoever despises his friend is destitute in heart. But the prudent man will remain silent.
He that despiseth his neighbour lacketh understanding; but a man of discernment holdeth his peace.
13 Whoever walks dishonestly reveals secrets. But whoever is of a faithful soul conceals what is confided by a friend.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.
14 Where there is no governor, the people shall fall. But where there is much counsel, well-being shall be.
Where no wise direction is, a people falleth; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He will be afflicted with evil, who provides a guarantee for an outsider. But whoever is wary of traps shall be secure.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; but he that hateth them that strike hands is secure.
16 A gracious woman shall discover glory. And the robust will have wealth.
A gracious woman obtaineth honour; and strong men obtain riches.
17 A merciful man benefits his own soul. But whoever is cruel casts out even his close relatives.
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The impious does work with inconstancy. But for the sower of justice, there is the reward of faithfulness.
The wicked earneth deceitful wages; but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
19 Clemency prepares life. And the pursuit of evils prepares death.
Stedfast righteousness tendeth to life; but he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20 A depraved heart is abominable to the Lord. And his will is with those who walk in simplicity.
They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD; but such as are upright in their way are His delight.
21 Hand in hand, the evil shall not be innocent. But the offspring of the just shall be saved.
My hand upon it! the evil man shall not be unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
22 A beautiful and senseless woman is like a gold ring in the snout of a swine.
As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman that turneth aside from discretion.
23 The desire of the just is entirely good. The anticipation of the impious is fury.
The desire of the righteous is only good; but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Some distribute their own goods, and they become wealthier. Others seize what is not their own, and they are always in need.
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.
25 The soul that blesses shall be made fat. And whoever inebriates will likewise be inebriated himself.
The beneficent soul shall be made rich, and he that satisfieth abundantly shall be satisfied also himself.
26 Whoever hides away grain shall be cursed among the people. But a blessing is upon the head of those who sell it.
He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He does well to rise early, who seeks what is good. But whoever is a seeker of evils shall be oppressed by them.
He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favour; but he that searcheth for evil, it shall come unto him.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall. But the just shall spring up like a green leaf.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as foliage.
29 Whoever troubles his own house will possess the winds. And whoever is foolish will serve the wise.
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; and the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the just one is the tree of life. And whoever receives souls is wise.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that is wise winneth souls.
31 If the just are repaid upon the earth, how much more the impious and the sinner!
Behold, the righteous shall be requited in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!
