Proverbs Monthly
11 The Lord abhors[a] dishonest scales,[b]
but an accurate weight[c] is his delight.
2 After pride[d] came,[e] disgrace followed;[f]
but wisdom came[g] with humility.[h]
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,[i]
but the crookedness of the treacherous[j] destroys them.[k]
4 Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath,[l]
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will make their way smooth,[m]
but the wicked will fall through their own wickedness.[n]
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,[o]
but the treacherous will be ensnared[p] by their own desires.[q]
7 When a wicked person dies, his[r] expectation perishes,[s]
and hope based on power[t] has perished.[u]
8 A righteous person was delivered[v] out of trouble,
then a wicked person took his place.[w]
9 With his speech[x] the godless person[y] destroys[z] his neighbor,
but by knowledge[aa] the righteous will be delivered.
10 When the righteous do well,[ab] the city rejoices;[ac]
when the wicked perish, there is joy.
11 A city is exalted by the blessing provided from[ad] the upright,
but it is destroyed by the counsel[ae] of the wicked.[af]
12 The one who denounces[ag] his neighbor lacks sense,[ah]
but a discerning person[ai] keeps silent.[aj]
13 The one who goes about slandering others[ak] reveals[al] secrets,
but the one who is trustworthy[am] conceals a matter.
14 When there is no guidance[an] a nation falls,
but there is success[ao] in the abundance of counselors.
15 The one who has put up security for a stranger[ap] will surely have trouble,[aq]
but whoever avoids[ar] shaking hands[as] is secure.[at]
16 A generous woman[au] gains honor,
and ruthless men[av] seize wealth.[aw]
17 A kind person[ax] benefits[ay] himself,[az]
but a cruel person brings himself trouble.[ba]
18 The wicked person[bb] earns[bc] deceitful wages,[bd]
but the one who sows[be] righteousness reaps[bf] a genuine[bg] reward.[bh]
19 True[bi] righteousness leads to[bj] life,
but the one who pursues evil pursues it[bk] to his own death.[bl]
20 The Lord abhors[bm] those who are perverse in heart,[bn]
but those who are blameless in their ways[bo] are his delight.[bp]
21 Be assured that[bq] the evil person will not be unpunished,[br]
but the descendants of the righteous[bs] have escaped harm.[bt]
22 Like[bu] a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who rejects[bv] discretion.[bw]
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.[bx]
24 One person is generous[by] and yet grows more wealthy,[bz]
but another withholds more than he should[ca] and comes to poverty.[cb]
25 A generous person[cc] will be enriched,[cd]
and the one who provides water[ce] for others[cf] will himself be satisfied.[cg]
26 People will curse[ch] the one who withholds grain,[ci]
but they will praise[cj] the one who sells it.[ck]
27 The one who diligently seeks[cl] good seeks favor,
but the one who searches for[cm] evil—it will come to him.[cn]
28 The one who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous[co] will flourish like a green leaf.[cp]
29 The one who troubles[cq] his family[cr] will inherit nothing,[cs]
and the fool[ct] will be a servant to the wise person.[cu]
30 The fruit of the righteous is like[cv] a tree producing life,[cw]
and the one who wins souls[cx] is wise.[cy]
31 If the righteous are recompensed on earth,[cz]
how much more[da] the wicked sinner![db]
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