Proverbs 11:16-31

Christian Standard Bible

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

¹⁷ A kind man benefits himself,^(A)
but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.^(B)

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

¹⁹ Genuine righteousness leads to life,^(D)
but pursuing evil leads to death.^(E)

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

²¹ Be assured^[b] that a wicked person
will not go unpunished,^(G)
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.^(H)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,^(W)
but a cunning person takes lives.^(X)

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