Proverbs 11–12

11Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,^ae

but an accurate weight is his delight.^af

²When arrogance comes, disgrace follows,

but with humility comes wisdom.^ag

³The integrity of the upright guides them,^ah

but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.^ai

⁴Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,

but righteousness rescues from death.^a

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.^b

⁷When the wicked person dies,

his expectation comes to nothing,

and hope placed in wealth^AB vanishes.^c

⁸The righteous one is rescued from trouble;

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

⁹With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,

but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

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

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

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

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

¹²Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,

but a person with understanding keeps silent.^h

¹³A gossip goes around revealing a secret,

but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.ⁱ

¹⁴Without guidance, a people will fall,

but with many counselors there is deliverance.^j

¹⁵If someone puts up security for a stranger,

he will suffer for it,^k

but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

¹⁶A gracious woman gains honor,

but violent^A people gain only riches.

¹⁷A kind man benefits himself,^l

but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.^m

¹⁸The wicked person earns an empty wage,

but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.ⁿ

¹⁹Genuine righteousness leads to life,^o

but pursuing evil leads to death.^p

²⁰Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,

but those with blameless conduct are his delight.^q

²¹Be assured^B that a wicked person

will not go unpunished,^r

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.^s

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

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

²⁴One person gives freely,

yet gains more;^v

another withholds what is right,

only to become poor.^w

²⁵A generous person will be enriched,^x

and the one who gives a drink of water

will receive water.^y

²⁶People will curse^z anyone who hoards grain,

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

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

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

²⁸Anyone trusting in his riches will fall,^b

but the righteous will flourish like foliage.^c

²⁹The one who brings ruin on his household^d

will inherit the wind,^e

and a fool will be a slave

to someone whose heart is wise.

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

but a cunning person takes lives.

³¹If the righteous will be repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and sinful.^g

12Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but one who hates correction is stupid.^h

²One who is good obtains favor from the Lord,ⁱ

but he condemns a person who schemes.^j

³No one can be made secure by wickedness,

but the root of the righteous is immovable.^k

⁴A wife of noble character^A is her husband’s crown,^l

but a wife who causes shame

is like rottenness in his bones.^m

⁵The thoughts of the righteous are just,

but guidance from the wicked is deceitful.

⁶The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,ⁿ

but the speech of the upright rescues them.^o

⁷The wicked are overthrown and perish,^p

but the house of the righteous will stand.^q

⁸A man is praised for his insight,

but a twisted mind is despised.

⁹Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant,

than to act important but have no food.^r

¹⁰The righteous cares about his animal’s health,^s

but even the merciful acts of the wicked are cruel.

¹¹The one who works his land will have plenty of food,^t

but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.^u

¹²The wicked desire what evil people have caught,^B

but the root of the righteous is productive.

¹³By rebellious speech an evil person is trapped,^v

but a righteous person escapes from trouble.^w

¹⁴A person will be satisfied with good

by the fruit of his mouth,^x

and the work of a person’s hands will reward him.^y

¹⁵A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,^z

but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

¹⁶A fool’s displeasure is known at once,

but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.^aa

¹⁷Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right,

but a false witness speaks deceit.^ab

¹⁸There is one who speaks rashly,

like a piercing sword;^ac

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.^ad

¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue, only a moment.^ae

²⁰Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,

but those who promote peace have joy.^a

²¹No disaster overcomes the righteous,^b

but the wicked are full of misery.

²²Lying lips are detestable to the Lord,^c

but faithful people are his delight.^d

²³A shrewd person conceals knowledge,

but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.^e

²⁴The diligent hand will rule,

but laziness will lead to forced labor.^f

²⁵Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,

but a good word cheers it up.^g

²⁶A righteous person is careful in dealing with his neighbor,^A

but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.^h

²⁷A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game,ⁱ

but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious.^j

²⁸There is life in the path of righteousness,

and in its path there is no death.^Bk