Proverbs 11

1 The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.

False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him.

2 With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.

3 Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.

When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.

4 Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.

[Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. ]

5 The goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.

6 The goodness of those who live right will save them, but the dishonest are trapped by their own desires.

The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.

7 When a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.

At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.

8 The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.

A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.

9 Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.

In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.

10 The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.

In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.

11 Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.

[At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]

12 People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.

A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.

A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.

14 A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.

They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.

15 You'll get into trouble if you guarantee a stranger's loans—you're far safer if you refuse to make such pledges.

A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.

16 A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.

A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonor. The slothful come to lack: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.

17 If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.

A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.

18 The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.

An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.

19 Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.

A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in death.

20 The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.

Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.

21 You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.

He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.

22 A beautiful woman who lacks good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.

23 Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.

All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

24 If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.

There are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.

25 If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.

Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.

26 People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.

May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [it].

27 If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find it!

He that devises good [counsels] seeks good favor: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake him.

28 If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.

He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.

29 If you cause trouble in your family, you'll inherit nothing but air. Stupid people end up as servants to those who think wisely.

He that deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.

30 The fruit of the good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people.

Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.

31 If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!

If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?