Proverbs 11
1 A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just weight is his will.
False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him.
2 Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility is, there also is wisdom.
Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.
3 The simplicity of the just shall guide them: and the deceitfulness of the wicked shall destroy them.
When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
4 Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall deliver from death.
[Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. ]
5 The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous: and the wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness.
Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.
6 The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust shall be caught in their own snares.
The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
7 When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more: and the expectation of the solicitous shall perish.
At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
8 The just is delivered out of distress: and the wicked shall be given up for him.
A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
9 The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by knowledge.
In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
10 When it goeth well with the just the city shall rejoice: and when the wicked perish there shall be praise.
In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.
11 By the blessing of the just the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the wicked it shall be overthrown.
[At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]
12 He that despiseth his friend, is mean of heart: but the wise man will hold his peace.
A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
13 He that walketh deceitfully, revealeth secrets: but he that is faithful, concealeth the thing committed to him by his friend.
A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.
14 Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is safety where there is much counsel.
They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.
15 He shall be afflicted with evil, that is surety for a stranger: but he that is aware of the snares, shall be secure.
A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
16 A gracious woman shall find glory: and the strong shall have riches.
A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour. The slothful come to lack: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.
17 A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel casteth off even his own kindred.
A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.
18 The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth justice, there is a faithful reward.
An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
19 Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things, death.
A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in death.
20 A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in them that walk sincerely.
Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.
21 Hand in hand the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of the just shall be saved.
He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.
22 A golden ring in a swine’s snout, a woman fair and foolish.
As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.
23 The desire of the just is all good: the expectation of the wicked is indignation.
All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
24 Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take away what is not their own, and are always in want.
There are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.
25 The soul which blesseth, shall be made fat: and he that inebriateth, shall be inebriated also himself.
Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.
26 He that hideth up corn, shall be cursed among the people: but a blessing upon the head of them that sell.
May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [it].
27 Well doth he rise early who seeketh good things; but he that seeketh after evil things shall be oppressed by them.
He that devises good [counsels] seeks good favour: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up as a green leaf.
He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.
29 He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds: and the fool shall serve the wise.
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 just man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth souls, is wise.
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 just man receive in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner.
If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
