Proverbs 11:1-17 - Compare All Versions
Proverbs 11:1-17 NIV (New International Version)
The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing. The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe. A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
Proverbs 11:1-17 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead. With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure. A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
Proverbs 11:1-17 NLT (New Living Translation)
The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them. When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die. Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet. A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers. There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt. A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.
Proverbs 11:1-17 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Dishonest scales are detestable to the LORD, but an accurate weight is his delight. When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them. Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death. The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness. The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires. When the wicked person dies, his expectation comes to nothing, and hope placed in wealth , vanishes. The righteous one is rescued from trouble; in his place, the wicked one goes in. With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued. When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices; when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting. A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked. Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a person with understanding keeps silent. A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence. Without guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance. If someone puts up security for a stranger, he will suffer for it, but the one who hates such agreements is protected. A gracious woman gains honor, but violent people gain only riches. A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.
Proverbs 11:1-17 KJV (King James Version)
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: But a just weight is his delight. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them: But the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: But righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: But transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: And the hope of unjust men perisheth. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: But through knowledge shall the just be delivered. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: And when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: But a man of understanding holdeth his peace. A talebearer revealeth secrets: But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: And he that hateth suretiship is sure. A gracious woman retaineth honour: And strong men retain riches. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Proverbs 11:1-17 NKJV (New King James Version)
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight. When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust. When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes. The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead. The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace. A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter. Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, But one who hates being surety is secure. A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches. The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
Proverbs 11:1-17 MSG (The Message)
GOD hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard. The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm. The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin. A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst. Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life. Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust. When the wicked die, that’s it— the story’s over, end of hope. A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it. The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them. When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers; when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates. When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time. Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense. A gadabout gossip can’t be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won’t violate a confidence. Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances. Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you’ll avoid rash bargains. A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot. When you’re kind to others, you help yourself; when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
Proverbs 11:1-17 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight. When pride comes, then comes dishonor; But with the humble there is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them. Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath, But righteousness rescues from death. The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will rescue them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. When a wicked person dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong people perishes. The righteous is rescued from trouble, But the wicked takes his place. With his mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be rescued. When things go well for the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked, it is torn down. One who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a person of understanding keeps silent. One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, But one who is trustworthy conceals a matter. Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors there is victory. One who is a guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it, But one who hates being a guarantor is secure. A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches. A merciful person does himself good, But the cruel person does himself harm.
Proverbs 11:1-17 AMP (Amplified Bible)
A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the LORD, But an accurate scale is His delight. [Lev 19:35, 36; Prov 16:11] When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame, But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind. The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment, But righteousness rescues from death. [Prov 10:2; Zeph 1:18] The righteousness of the blameless will smooth their way and keep it straight, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will rescue them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. When the wicked man dies, his expectation will perish; And the hope of [godless] strong men perishes. The righteous is rescued from trouble, And the wicked takes his place. With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge and discernment the righteous will be rescued. When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent. He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy and faithful keeps a matter hidden. Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm], But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory. He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness], But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties]. A gracious and good woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect]. The merciful and generous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him], But the cruel and callous man does himself harm.
Proverbs 11:1-17 NET (New English Translation)
The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but an accurate weight is his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the unfaithful destroys them. Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger. The righteousness of the blameless will make straight their way, but the wicked person will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the faithless will be captured by their own desires. When a wicked person dies, his expectation perishes, and the hope of his strength perishes. The righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked turns up in his stead. With his speech the godless person destroys his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous will be delivered. When the righteous do well, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there is joy. A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright, but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked. The one who denounces his neighbor lacks wisdom, but the one who has discernment keeps silent. The one who goes about slandering others reveals secrets, but the one who is trustworthy conceals a matter. When there is no guidance a nation falls, but there is success in the abundance of counselors. The one who puts up security for a stranger will surely have trouble, but whoever avoids shaking hands will be secure. A generous woman gains honor, and ruthless men seize wealth. A kind person benefits himself, but a cruel person brings himself trouble.