Proverbs 11–12

11A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah;

But a just weight is his delight.

²When pride cometh, then cometh shame;

But with the lowly is wisdom.

³The integrity of the upright shall guide them;

But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath;

But righteousness delivereth from death.

⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way;

But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them;

But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.

⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish;

And the hope of iniquity perisheth.

⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble,

And the wicked cometh in his stead.

⁹With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor;

But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.

¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth;

And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted;

But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹²He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom;

But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

¹³He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;

But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

¹⁴Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth;

But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

¹⁵He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it;

But he that hateth suretyship is secure.

¹⁶A gracious woman obtaineth honor;

And violent men obtain riches.

¹⁷The merciful man doeth good to his own soul;

But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

¹⁸The wicked earneth deceitful wages;

But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.

¹⁹He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life;

And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.

²⁰They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah;

But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

²¹Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished;

But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

²²As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,

So is a fair woman that is without discretion.

²³The desire of the righteous is only good;

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

²⁴There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more;

And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

²⁵The liberal soul shall be made fat;

And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

²⁶He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him;

But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

²⁷He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor;

But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.

²⁸He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;

But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

²⁹He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind;

And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;

And he that is wise winneth souls.

³¹Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth:

How much more the wicked and the sinner!

12Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge;

But he that hateth reproof is brutish.

²A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah;

But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

³A man shall not be established by wickedness;

But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

⁴A worthy woman is the crown of her husband;

But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

⁵The thoughts of the righteous are just;

But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

⁶The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood;

But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

⁷The wicked are overthrown, and are not;

But the house of the righteous shall stand.

⁸A man shall be commended according to his wisdom;

But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

⁹Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant,

Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

¹⁰A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast;

But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

¹¹He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread;

But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.

¹²The wicked desireth the net of evil men;

But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

¹³In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man;

But the righteous shall come out of trouble.

¹⁴A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth;

And the doings of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

¹⁵The way of a fool is right in his own eyes;

But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.

¹⁶A fool’s vexation is presently known;

But a prudent man concealeth shame.

¹⁷He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness;

But a false witness, deceit.

¹⁸There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword;

But the tongue of the wise is health.

¹⁹The lip of truth shall be established for ever;

But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

²⁰Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil;

But to the counsellors of peace is joy.

²¹There shall no mischief happen to the righteous;

But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

²²Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah;

But they that deal truly are his delight.

²³A prudent man concealeth knowledge;

But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

²⁴The hand of the diligent shall bear rule;

But the slothful shall be put under taskwork.

²⁵Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop;

But a good word maketh it glad.

²⁶The righteous is a guide to his neighbor;

But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.

²⁷The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting;

But the precious substance of men is to the diligent.

²⁸In the way of righteousness is life;

And in the pathway thereof there is no death.