Proverbs 11

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

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

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

⁴ Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

⁷ When the wicked dies, his hope perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nought.

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

⁹ With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

¹⁰ When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹² He who belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

¹³ He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden.

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

¹⁵ He who gives surety for a stranger will smart for it, but he who hates suretyship is secure.

¹⁶ A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.

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

¹⁸ A wicked man earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

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

²⁰ Men of perverse mind are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

²¹ Be assured, an evil man will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will be delivered.

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

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

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

²⁵ A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

²⁶ The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

²⁷ He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

²⁸ He who trusts in his riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

²⁹ He who troubles his household will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but lawlessness takes away lives.

³¹ If the righteous is requited on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!