Proverbs11

¹ The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.

² When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

⁷ Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.

⁸ The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.

⁹ With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

¹⁰ When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

¹² Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

¹⁴ For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

¹⁶ A kindhearted woman gains honor, 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.

¹⁹ Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.

²⁰ The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

²¹ Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

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 person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

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.

²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

²⁹ Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

³¹ If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!