Proverbs 11

¹Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord, ^a

but an accurate weight is his delight. ^b

²When arrogance comes, disgrace follows,

but with humility comes wisdom. ^c

³The integrity of the upright guides them, ^d

but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them. ^e

⁴Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,

but righteousness rescues from death. ^f

⁵The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,

but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

⁶The righteousness of the upright rescues them,

but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires. ^g

⁷When the wicked person dies,

his expectation comes to nothing,

and hope placed in wealth ^h,ⁱ vanishes. ^j

⁸The righteous one is rescued from trouble;

in his place, the wicked one goes in. ^k

⁹With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,

but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

¹⁰When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices; ^l

when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting. ^m

¹¹A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, ⁿ

but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked. ^o

¹²Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,

but a person with understanding keeps silent. ^p

¹³A gossip goes around revealing a secret,

but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence. ^q

¹⁴Without guidance, a people will fall,

but with many counselors there is deliverance. ^r

¹⁵If someone puts up security for a stranger,

he will suffer for it, ^s

but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

¹⁶A gracious woman gains honor,

but violent ^t people gain only riches.

¹⁷A kind man benefits himself, ^u

but a cruel person brings ruin on himself. ^v

¹⁸The wicked person earns an empty wage,

but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward. ^w

¹⁹Genuine righteousness leads to life, ^x

but pursuing evil leads to death. ^y

²⁰Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,

but those with blameless conduct are his delight. ^z

²¹Be assured ^aa that a wicked person

will not go unpunished, ^ab

but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

²²A beautiful woman who rejects good sense

is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. ^ac

²³The desire of the righteous turns out well, ^ad

but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath. ^ae

²⁴One person gives freely,

yet gains more; ^af

another withholds what is right,

only to become poor. ^ag

²⁵A generous person will be enriched, ^ah

and the one who gives a drink of water

will receive water. ^ai

²⁶People will curse ^aj anyone who hoards grain,

but a blessing will come to the one who sells it. ^ak

²⁷The one who searches for what is good ^al seeks favor,

but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him. ^am

²⁸Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, ^an

but the righteous will flourish like foliage. ^ao

²⁹The one who brings ruin on his household ^ap

will inherit the wind, ^aq

and a fool will be a slave

to someone whose heart is wise.

³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, ^ar

but a cunning person takes lives. ^as

³¹If the righteous will be repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and sinful. ^at