Proverbs 11-14

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.

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.^(CA)

² From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,^(CB)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

³ Those who guard their lips^(CC) preserve their lives,^(CD)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.^(CE)

⁴ A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,^(CF)
    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

⁵ The righteous hate what is false,^(CG)
    but the wicked make themselves a stench
    and bring shame on themselves.

⁶ Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.^(CH)

⁷ One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;^(CI)
    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.^(CJ)

⁸ A person’s riches may ransom their life,
    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.^(CK)

⁹ The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.^(CL)

¹⁰ Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.^(CM)

¹¹ Dishonest money dwindles away,^(CN)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.^(CO)

¹³ Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,^(CP)
    but whoever respects^(CQ) a command is rewarded.^(CR)

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,^(CS)
    turning a person from the snares of death.^(CT)

¹⁵ Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.^[c]

¹⁶ All who are prudent act with^[d] knowledge,
    but fools expose^(CU) their folly.^(CV)

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,^(CW)
    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.^(CX)

¹⁸ Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,^(CY)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.^(CZ)

¹⁹ A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,^(DA)
    but fools detest turning from evil.

²⁰ Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.^(DB)

²¹ Trouble pursues the sinner,^(DC)
    but the righteous^(DD) are rewarded with good things.^(DE)

²² A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,
    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.^(DF)

²³ An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

²⁴ Whoever spares the rod^(DG) hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline^(DH) them.^(DI)

²⁵ The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.^(DJ)

14 The wise woman builds her house,^(DK)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

² Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

³ A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,^(DL)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.^(DM)

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox^(DN) come abundant harvests.

⁵ An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.^(DO)

⁶ The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.^(DP)

⁷ Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,^(DQ)
    but the folly of fools is deception.^(DR)

⁹ Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

¹⁰ Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,^(DS)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.^(DT)

¹² There is a way that appears to be right,^(DU)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(DV)

¹³ Even in laughter^(DW) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

¹⁴ The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,^(DX)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.^(DY)

¹⁵ The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.^(DZ)

¹⁶ The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,^(EA)
    but a fool^(EB) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

¹⁷ A quick-tempered person^(EC) does foolish things,^(ED)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.^(EE)

¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.^(EF)

²⁰ The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.^(EG)

²¹ It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,^(EH)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.^(EI)

²² Do not those who plot evil go astray?^(EJ)
    But those who plan what is good find^[e] love and faithfulness.

²³ All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴ The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.^(EK)

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.^(EL)

²⁶ Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,^(EM)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.^(EN)

²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,^(EO)
    turning a person from the snares of death.^(EP)

²⁸ A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.^(EQ)

²⁹ Whoever is patient has great understanding,^(ER)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.^(ES)

³⁰ A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.^(ET)

³¹ Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,^(EU)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.^(EV)

³² When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,^(EW)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.^(EX)

³³ Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning^(EY)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.^[f]

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,^(EZ)
    but sin condemns any people.

³⁵ A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.^(FA)