Proverbs 11

Holman Christian Standard Bible

11 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,^(A)
but an accurate weight is His delight.^(B)

² When pride comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.^(C)

³ The integrity of the upright guides them,^(D)
but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.^(E)

⁴ Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,
but righteousness rescues from death.^(F)

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

⁶ The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.^(G)

⁷ When the wicked man dies,
his expectation comes to nothing,
and hope placed in wealth^[a][b] vanishes.^(H)

⁸ The righteous one is rescued from trouble;
in his place, the wicked one goes in.^(I)

⁹ With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

¹⁰ When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices,^(J)
and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

¹¹ A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,^(K)
but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.^(L)

¹² Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man with understanding keeps silent.^(M)

¹³ A gossip goes around revealing a secret,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.^(N)

¹⁴ Without guidance, people fall,
but with many counselors there is deliverance.^(O)

¹⁵ If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,^(P)
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

¹⁶ A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent^[c] men gain only riches.

¹⁷ A kind man benefits himself,^(Q)
but a cruel man brings disaster on himself.^(R)

¹⁸ The wicked man earns an empty wage,
but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.^(S)

¹⁹ Genuine righteousness leads to life,^(T)
but pursuing evil leads to death.^(U)

²⁰ Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,
but those with blameless conduct are His delight.^(V)

²¹ Be assured^[d] that the wicked
will not go unpunished,^(W)
but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

²² A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.^(X)

²³ The desire of the righteous turns out well,^(Y)
but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.^(Z)

²⁴ One person gives freely,
yet gains more;^(AA)
another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.^(AB)

²⁵ A generous person will be enriched,^(AC)
and the one who gives a drink of water
will receive water.^(AD)

²⁶ People will curse^(AE) anyone who hoards grain,
but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.^(AF)

²⁷ The one who searches for what is good^(AG) finds favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.^(AH)

²⁸ Anyone trusting in his riches will fall,^(AI)
but the righteous will flourish like foliage.^(AJ)

²⁹ The one who brings ruin on his household^(AK)
will inherit the wind,^(AL)
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,^(AM)
but violence^[e] takes lives.

³¹ If the righteous will be repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and sinful.^(AN)