Proverbs 11-12

New International Version

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,^(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.^(B)

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

³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.^(E)

⁴ Wealth^(F) is worthless in the day of wrath,^(G)
    but righteousness delivers from death.^(H)

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,^(I)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.^(J)

⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.^(K)

⁷ Hopes placed in mortals die with them;^(L)
    all the promise of^[a] their power comes to nothing.^(M)

⁸ The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.^(N)

⁹ With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.^(O)

¹⁰ When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;^(P)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.^(Q)

¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,^(R)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.^(S)

¹² Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,^(T)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.^(U)

¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence,^(V)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.^(W)

¹⁴ For lack of guidance a nation falls,^(X)
    but victory is won through many advisers.^(Y)

¹⁵ Whoever puts up security^(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.^(AA)

¹⁶ A kindhearted woman gains honor,^(AB)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷ Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

¹⁸ A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.^(AC)

¹⁹ Truly the righteous attain life,^(AD)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.^(AE)

²⁰ The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,^(AF)
    but he delights^(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.^(AH)

²¹ Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.^(AI)

²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

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

²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous^(AJ) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.^(AK)

²⁶ People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

²⁷ Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.^(AL)

²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will fall,^(AM)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.^(AN)

²⁹ Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.^(AO)

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,^(AP)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

³¹ If the righteous receive their due^(AQ) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.^(AR)

² Good people obtain favor from the Lord,^(AS)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.^(AT)

³ No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.^(AU)

⁴ A wife of noble character^(AV) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.^(AW)

⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.^(AX)

⁷ The wicked are overthrown and are no more,^(AY)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.^(AZ)

⁸ A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped^(BA) mind is despised.

⁹ Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

¹⁰ The righteous care for the needs of their animals,^(BB)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

¹¹ Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.^(BC)

¹² The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

¹³ Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,^(BD)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.^(BE)

¹⁴ From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,^(BF)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.^(BG)

¹⁵ The way of fools seems right to them,^(BH)
    but the wise listen to advice.^(BI)

¹⁶ Fools^(BJ) show their annoyance at once,^(BK)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.^(BL)

¹⁷ An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.^(BM)

¹⁸ The words of the reckless pierce like swords,^(BN)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.^(BO)

¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

²⁰ Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.^(BP)

²¹ No harm overtakes the righteous,^(BQ)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

²² The Lord detests lying lips,^(BR)
    but he delights^(BS) in people who are trustworthy.^(BT)

²³ The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,^(BU)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.^(BV)

²⁴ Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.^(BW)

²⁵ Anxiety weighs down the heart,^(BX)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

²⁶ The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.^(BY)

²⁷ The lazy do not roast^[b] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

²⁸ In the way of righteousness there is life;^(BZ)
    along that path is immortality.