Proverbs 11

English Standard Version

11 ^(A)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    ^(B)but a just weight is his delight.
^2 (C)When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with ^(D)the humble is wisdom.
^3 (E)The integrity of the upright guides them,
    ^(F)but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
^4 (G)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    ^(H)but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless ^(I)keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
^6 (J)The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous ^(K)are taken captive by their lust.
⁷ When the wicked dies, his ^(L)hope will perish,
    and ^(M)the expectation of wealth^[a] perishes too.
^8 (N)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹ 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!