Proverbs 11:12-31
New American Standard Bible 1995
12 He who despises his neighbor lacks [a]sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
13 He (A)who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is [b]trustworthy (B)conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no (C)guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is [c]victory.
15 He who is (D)guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
But he who hates [d]being a guarantor is secure.
16 A (E)gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.
17 The (F)merciful man does [e]himself good,
But the cruel man [f]does himself harm.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who (G)sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 He who is steadfast in (H)righteousness will attain to life,
And (I)he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the (J)blameless in their [g]walk are His (K)delight.
21 [h]Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the [i]descendants of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a (L)ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks [j]discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the (M)expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
25 The [k](N)generous man will be [l]prosperous,
And he who (O)waters will himself be watered.
26 He who withholds grain, the (P)people will curse him,
But (Q)blessing will be on the head of him who (R)sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But (S)he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28 He who (T)trusts in his riches will fall,
But (U)the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 He who (V)troubles his own house will (W)inherit wind,
And (X)the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (Y)a tree of life,
And (Z)he who is wise [m]wins souls.
31 If (AA)the righteous will be rewarded in the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:12 Lit heart
- Proverbs 11:13 Lit faithful of spirit
- Proverbs 11:14 Lit deliverance
- Proverbs 11:15 Lit those who strike hands
- Proverbs 11:17 Lit good to his own soul
- Proverbs 11:17 Lit troubles his flesh
- Proverbs 11:20 Lit way
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit Hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit seed
- Proverbs 11:22 Lit taste
- Proverbs 11:25 Lit soul of blessing
- Proverbs 11:25 Lit made fat
- Proverbs 11:30 Lit takes
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
