Proverbs 11

1 Balances of deceit [are] an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight [is] His delight.

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

2 Pride hath come, and shame cometh, And with the lowly [is] wisdom.

With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright leadeth them, And the perverseness of the treacherous destroyeth them.

Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.

4 Wealth profiteth not in a day of wrath, And righteousness delivereth from death.

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

5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall.

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

6 The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.

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

7 In the death of a wicked man, hope perisheth, And the expectation of the iniquitous hath been lost.

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

8 The righteous from distress is drawn out, And the wicked goeth in instead of him.

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

9 With the mouth a hypocrite corrupteth his friend, And by knowledge the righteous are drawn out.

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

10 In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked [is] singing.

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

11 By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.

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

12 Whoso is despising his neighbour lacketh heart, And a man of understanding keepeth silence.

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

13 A busybody is revealing secret counsel, And the faithful of spirit is covering the matter.

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

14 Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance [is] in a multitude of counsellors.

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

15 Evil [one] suffereth when he hath been surety [for] a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.

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

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible [men] retain riches.

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

17 A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.

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

18 The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso is sowing righteousness — a true reward.

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

19 Rightly [is] righteousness for life, And whoso is pursuing evil — for his own death.

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

20 An abomination to Jehovah [are] the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way [are] His delight.

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

21 Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.

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

22 A ring of gold in the nose of a sow — A fair woman and stubborn of behaviour.

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

23 The desire of the righteous [is] only good, The hope of the wicked [is] transgression.

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

24 There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

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

25 A liberal soul is made fat, And whoso is watering, he also is watered.

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

26 Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing [is] for the head of him who is selling.

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

27 Whoso is earnestly seeking good Seeketh a pleasing thing, And whoso is seeking evil — it meeteth him.

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

28 Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

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

29 Whoso is troubling his own house inheriteth wind, And a servant [is] the fool to the wise of heart.

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

30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life, And whoso is taking souls [is] wise.

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

31 Lo, the righteous in the earth is recompensed, Surely also the wicked and the sinner!

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