Proverbs 11

¹ A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but an accurate weight is his delight.

² When pride comes, disgrace comes also,
but with the humble is wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes smooth his way,
but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are captured by their own desire.

⁷ When the wicked dies, hope perishes;
all the expectation of his power comes to nothing.

⁸ The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.

⁹ With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are delivered.

¹⁰ When the righteous prosper, the city exults;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is lifted up,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

¹² Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding keeps silent.

¹³ Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but a trustworthy man keeps a matter quiet.

¹⁴ Where there is no guidance a nation falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger suffers harm,
but whoever refuses to shake hands with one is safe.

¹⁶ A gracious woman gains honor,
and ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷ A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man harms himself.

¹⁸ The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but whoever sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

¹⁹ He who is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.

²⁰ Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.

²¹ Be sure of this: an evil man will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

²² Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.

²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
the hope of the wicked ends only in wrath.

²⁴ One gives freely yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give and only suffers want.

²⁵ A generous person will be enriched,
and whoever waters others will himself be watered.

²⁶ The people curse whoever withholds grain,
but a blessing rests on the head of one who sells it.

²⁷ Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but whoever searches for evil, it will come to him.

²⁸ Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like green foliage.

²⁹ Whoever troubles his household inherits the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.

³¹ If the righteous are repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!