Proverbs 11
11
The Value of Righteousness
1Dishonest scales are disgusting to the Lord,
but accurate weights are pleasing to him.
2Arrogance comes,
then comes shame,
but wisdom remains with humble people.
3Integrity guides decent people,
but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin.
4Riches are of no help on the day of fury,
but righteousness saves from death.
5The righteousness of innocent people makes their road smooth,
but wicked people fall by their own wickedness.
6Decent people are saved by their righteousness,
but treacherous people are trapped by their own greed.
7At the death of a wicked person, hope vanishes.
Moreover, his confidence in strength vanishes.
8A righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and a wicked person takes his place.
9With his talk a godless person can ruin his neighbor,
but righteous people are rescued by knowledge.
10When righteous people prosper, a city is glad.
When wicked people die, there are songs of joy.
11With the blessing of decent people a city is raised up,
but by the words of wicked people, it is torn down.
12A person who despises a neighbor has no sense,
but a person who has understanding keeps quiet.
13Whoever gossips gives away secrets,
but whoever is trustworthy in spirit can keep a secret.
14A nation will fall when there is no direction,
but with many advisers there is victory.
15Whoever guarantees a stranger’s loan will get into trouble,
but whoever hates the closing of a deal remains secure.
16A gracious woman wins respect,
but ruthless men gain riches.
17A merciful person helps himself,
but a cruel person hurts himself.
18A wicked person earns dishonest wages,
but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay.
19As righteousness leads to life,
so whoever pursues evil finds his own death.
20Devious people are disgusting to the Lord,
but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent.
21Certainly, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the descendants of righteous people will escape.
22 ⌞Like⌟ a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
⌞so⌟ is a beautiful woman who lacks good taste.
23The desire of righteous people ends only in good,
but the hope of wicked people ends only in fury.
24One person spends freely and yet grows richer,
while another holds back what he owes and yet grows poorer.
25A generous person will be made rich,
and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied.#11:25 Or “and whoever gives someone a drink will also get a drink.”
26People will curse the one who hoards grain,
but a blessing will be upon the head of the one who sells it.
27Whoever eagerly seeks good searches for good will,
but whoever looks for evil finds it.
28Whoever trusts his riches will fall,
but righteous people will flourish like a green leaf.
29Whoever brings trouble upon his family inherits ⌞only⌟ wind,
and that stubborn fool becomes a slave to the wise in heart.
30The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life,
and a winner of souls is wise.
31If the righteous person is rewarded on earth,
how much more the wicked person and the sinner!
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 11
11
1The Lord hates false scales, but he loves accurate weights.
2Proud and boastful people will be shamed, but wisdom stays with those who are modest and humble.
3Good people are guided by their honesty, but crooks who lie and cheat will ruin themselves.
4Money is worthless when you face God’s punishment, but living right will save you from death.
5Doing right makes life better for those who are good, but the wicked are destroyed by their own wicked ways.
6Doing right sets honest people free, but people who can’t be trusted are trapped by their greed.
7When the wicked die, all their hopes are lost; everything they thought they could do comes to nothing.
8Good people escape from trouble, but the wicked come along and are trapped by it.
9With their words hypocrites can destroy their neighbors. But with what they know, good people can escape.
10When good people are successful, the whole city is happy, and they all shout with joy when evil people are destroyed.
11Blessings from the honest people living in a city will make it great, but the things evil people say can destroy it.
12Stupid people say bad things about their neighbors.#11:12 Stupid people … neighbors Or “The neighbors hate a stupid person.” Wise people know to be quiet.
13People who tell secrets about others cannot be trusted. Those who can be trusted keep quiet.
14A nation without wise leaders will fall. Many good advisors make a nation safe.
15You will be sorry if you promise to pay a stranger’s debt. Refuse to make such promises and you will be safe.
16A kind and gentle woman gains respect, but violent men gain only wealth.
17People who are kind will be rewarded for their kindness, but cruel people will be rewarded with trouble.
18The work of evil people is all lies, but those who do right will receive a good reward.#11:18 This is a wordplay in Hebrew. The word “lies” sounds like the word “reward.”
19People who do what is right are on their way to life, but those who always want to do wrong are on their way to death.
20The Lord hates those who love to do evil, but he is pleased with those who try to do right.
21The truth is, evil people will be punished, and good people will be set free.
22A beautiful woman without good sense is like a gold ring in a pig’s nose.
23What good people want brings more good. What evil people want brings more trouble.
24Some people give freely and gain more; others refuse to give and end up with less.
25Give freely, and you will profit. Help others, and you will gain more for yourself.
26People curse a greedy man who refuses to sell his grain, but they bless a man who sells his grain to feed others.
27People are pleased with those who try to do good. Those who look for trouble will find it.
28Those who trust in their riches will fall like dead leaves, but good people will blossom.
29Those who cause trouble for their families will inherit nothing but the wind. A foolish person will end up as a servant to one who is wise.
30What good people produce is like a life-giving tree. Those who are wise give new life to others.#11:30 Or, according to one ancient version, “The fruit of a good man is a tree of life, but a violent man takes lives.”
31If good people are rewarded here on earth, then surely those who do evil will also get what they deserve.
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