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11 The Lord ·hates [detests] ·dishonest [fraudulent] scales,
but he is pleased with ·honest [accurate] weights [16:11; Lev. 19:35–37; Deut. 25:13–15; Ezek. 45:10; Hos. 12:7–8].

·Pride [Insolence] leads only to shame;
it is wise to be humble.

·Good people [People with integrity] will be guided by ·honesty [innocence];
dishonesty will ·destroy [devastate] those who are not trustworthy.

Riches will not help ·when it’s time to die [L on the day of anger],
but ·right living [righteousness] will save you from death.

The ·goodness [righteousness] of the innocent makes ·life easier [L their path straight],
but the wicked will ·be destroyed [L fall] by their wickedness.

·Doing right [Righteousness] brings freedom to ·honest people [people with integrity],
but those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.

When the wicked die, hope ·dies with them [perishes];
their hope in riches ·will come to nothing [perishes].

The ·good [righteous] person is saved from ·trouble [distress];
it comes to the wicked instead.

With ·words [L their mouth] an ·evil [godless] person can destroy a neighbor,
but a ·good [righteous] person will escape by ·being resourceful [L their knowledge].

10 When ·good [righteous] people ·succeed [flourish], the city is happy.
When evil people ·die [perish], there are shouts of joy.

11 ·Good [Righteous] people bless and build up their city,
but the wicked can ·destroy [demolish] it with their ·words [L mouth].

12 People ·without good sense [who lack sense/heart] ·find fault with [despise; belittle] their neighbors,
but those with understanding keep quiet.

13 Gossips ·can’t keep [L go/walk around revealing] secrets,
but a trustworthy person ·can [keeps a confidence; L covers up a word].

14 Without ·leadership [guidance] a ·nation [people] falls,
but ·lots of good advice [L an abundance of counselors] will ·save it [bring victory; Eccl. 9:13–15].

15 Whoever guarantees to pay somebody else’s loan will suffer.
It is safer to avoid such promises.

16 A ·kind [gracious] woman gets ·respect [honor],
but ·cruel [violent] men get only wealth.

17 ·Kind [or Loyal] people ·do themselves a favor [benefit themselves],
but cruel people ·bring trouble on themselves [L harm their own bodies].

18 An evil person ·really earns nothing [gets false/deceptive wages],
but a ·good [righteous] person will surely be rewarded.

19 Those who are ·truly good [righteous] will live,
but those who chase after evil will die.

20 The Lord ·hates [detests] those with ·evil [crooked] hearts
but is pleased with those who are innocent on the path.

21 Evil people will certainly be punished,
but ·those who do right [L the children of the righteous] will be set free.

22 A beautiful woman without ·good sense [discretion]
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23 Those who do right only wish for good,
but the wicked can ·expect to be defeated by God’s [L hope only for] anger.

24 Some people give much but get back even more.
    Others don’t give what they should and end up poor.
25 Whoever ·gives to others will get richer [or blesses others will be refreshed];
    those who ·help [satisfy] others will themselves be ·helped [satisfied].

26 People curse those who keep all the grain,
but they bless the one who is willing to sell it.

27 Whoever looks for good will find ·kindness [favor],
but whoever looks for evil will find trouble.

28 Those who trust in riches will ·be ruined [L fall],
but a good person will ·be healthy [flourish] like a green leaf.

29 Whoever brings trouble to his family
    will ·be left with nothing but the [L inherit the] wind.
A fool will be a servant to the wise of heart.

30 ·A good person gives life to others [L The fruit of the righteous is the tree of life];
the wise person ·teaches others how to live [gathers lives/souls].

31 If ·good [righteous] people will get their due on earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinners.

11 (A)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    (B)but a just weight is his delight.
(C)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with (D)the humble is wisdom.
(E)The integrity of the upright guides them,
    (F)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
(G)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    (H)but righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless (I)keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
(J)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous (K)are taken captive by their lust.
When the wicked dies, his (L)hope will perish,
    and (M)the expectation of wealth[a] perishes too.
(N)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 (O)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 (P)by the mouth of the wicked (Q)it is overthrown.
12 Whoever (R)belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 Whoever (S)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14 Where there is (T)no guidance, a people falls,
    (U)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15 (V)Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 (W)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and (X)violent men get riches.
17 (Y)A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who (Z)sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness (AA)will live,
    but (AB)he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of (AC)crooked heart are (AD)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of (AE)blameless ways are (AF)his delight.
21 (AG)Be assured, (AH)an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but (AI)the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like (AJ)a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    (AK)the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 (AL)One gives (AM)freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 (AN)Whoever brings blessing (AO)will be enriched,
    and (AP)one who waters will himself be watered.
26 (AQ)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but (AR)a blessing is on the head of him who (AS)sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,[b]
    but evil comes to (AT)him who searches for it.
28 Whoever (AU)trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will (AV)flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever (AW)troubles his own household will (AX)inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (AY)a tree of life,
    and whoever (AZ)captures souls is wise.
31 If (BA)the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 Or of his strength, or of iniquity
  2. Proverbs 11:27 Or acceptance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from