Proverbs 11

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A false balance is abhorrent to Yahweh, a just weight is pleasing to him.	1 False scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a full weight is his delight.
2 Pride comes first; disgrace soon fol ows; with the humble is wisdom found.	2 When pride comes, disgrace comes; but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The honest have their own honesty for guidance, the treacherous are ruined by their own perfidy.	3 The honesty of the upright guides them; the faithless are ruined by their duplicity.
4 In the day of retribution riches wil be useless, but uprightness delivers from death.	4 Wealth is useless on the day of wrath, but virtue saves from death.
5 The uprightness of the good makes their way straight, the wicked fal by their own wickedness.	5 The honest man's virtue makes his way straight, but by his wickedness the wicked man falls.
6 Their uprightness sets the honest free, the treacherous are imprisoned by their own desires.	6 The virtue of the upright saves them, but the faithless are caught in their own intrigue.
7 The hope of the wicked perishes with death, hope placed in riches comes to nothing.	7 When a wicked man dies his hope perishes, and what is expected from strength comes to nought.
8 The upright escapes affliction, the wicked incurs it instead.	8 The just man escapes trouble, and the wicked man falls into it in his stead.
9 Through his mouth the godless is the ruin of his neighbour, but by knowledge the upright aresafeguarded.	9 With his mouth the impious man would ruin his neighbor, but through their knowledge the just make their escape.
10 When the upright prosper the city rejoices, when the wicked are ruined there is a shout of joy.	10 When the just prosper, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 A city is raised on the blessing of the honest, and demolished by the mouth of the wicked.	11 Through the blessing of the righteous the city is exalted, but through the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
12 Whoever looks down on a neighbour lacks good sense; the intelligent keeps a check on the tongue.	12 He who reviles his neighbor has no sense, but the intelligent man keeps silent.
13 A tittle-tattler lets secrets out, the trustworthy keeps things hidden.	13 A newsmonger reveals secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps a confidence.
14 For want of leadership a people perishes, safety lies in many advisers.	14 For lack of guidance a people falls; security lies in many counselors.
15 Whoever goes bail for a stranger does himself harm, but one who shuns going surety is safe.	15 He is in a bad way who becomes surety for another, but he who hates giving pledges is safe.
16 A gracious woman acquires honour, violent people acquire wealth.	16 A gracious woman wins esteem, but she who hates virtue is covered with shame. (The slothful become impoverished, but the diligent gain wealth.)
17 Faithful love brings its own reward, the inflexible injure their own selves.	17 A kindly man benefits himself, but a merciless man harms himself.
18 Disappointment crowns the labours of the wicked, whoever sows uprightness reaps a solid reward.	18 The wicked man makes empty profits, but he who sows virture has a sure reward.
19 Whoever establishes uprightness is on the way to life, whoever pursues evil, on the way to death.	19 Virtue directs toward life, but he who pursues evil does so to his death.
20 Tortuous hearts are abhorrent to Yahweh, dear to him, those whose ways are blameless.	20 The depraved in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those who walk blamelessly are his delight.
21 Be sure of it, the wicked wil not go unpunished, but the race of the upright wil come to no harm.	21 Truly the evil man shall not go unpunished, but those who are just shall escape.
22 A golden ring in the snout of a pig is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.	22 Like a golden ring in a swine's snout is a beautiful woman with a rebellious disposition.
23 The hope of the upright is nothing but good, the expectation of the wicked is retribution.	23 The desire of the just ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 One scatters money around, yet only adds to his wealth, another is excessively mean, but only growsthe poorer.	24 One man is lavish yet grows still richer; another is too sparing, yet is the poorer.
25 The soul who blesses wil prosper, whoever satisfies others wil also be satisfied.	25 He who confers benefits will be amply enriched, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 The people's curse is on those who hoard the wheat, their blessing on the head of those who sel it.	26 Him who monopolizes grain, the people curse-- but blessings upon the head of him who distributes it!
27 Whoever strives for good obtains favour, whoever looks for evil wil get an evil return.	27 He who seeks the good commands favor, but he who pursues evil will have evil befall him.
28 Whoever trusts in riches wil have a fal , the upright wil flourish like the leaves.	28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but like green leaves the just flourish.
29 Whoever misgoverns a house inherits the wind, and the fool becomes slave to the wise.	29 He who upsets his household has empty air for a heritage; and the fool will become slave to the wise man.
30 The fruit of the upright is a tree of life: the sage captivates souls.	30 The fruit of virtue is a tree of life, but violence takes lives away.
31 If here on earth the upright gets due reward, how much more the wicked and the sinner!	31 If the just man is punished on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!