Proverbs 11–12

11^aA false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

^bbut a just weight is his delight.

^2cWhen pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with ^dthe humble is wisdom.

^3eThe integrity of the upright guides them,

^fbut the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

^4gRiches do not profit in the day of wrath,

^hbut righteousness delivers from death.

⁵The righteousness of the blameless ⁱkeeps his way straight,

but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

^6hThe righteousness of the upright delivers them,

but the treacherous ^jare taken captive by their lust.

⁷When the wicked dies, his ^khope will perish,

and ^lthe expectation of wealth¹ perishes too.

^8mThe righteous is delivered from trouble,

and the wicked walks into it instead.

⁹With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

¹⁰ⁿWhen it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

¹¹By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but ^oby the mouth of the wicked ^pit is overthrown.

¹²Whoever ^qbelittles his neighbor lacks sense,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

¹³Whoever ^rgoes about slandering reveals secrets,

but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

¹⁴Where there is ^sno guidance, a people falls,

^sbut in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

^15tWhoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,

but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

^16uA gracious woman gets honor,

and ^vviolent men get riches.

^17wA man who is kind benefits himself,

but a cruel man hurts himself.

¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,

but one who ^xsows righteousness gets a sure reward.

¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ^ywill live,

but ^zhe who pursues evil will die.

²⁰Those of ^acrooked heart are ^ban abomination to the Lord,

but those of ^cblameless ways are ^dhis delight.

^21eBe assured, ^fan evil person will not go unpunished,

but ^gthe offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

²²Like ^ha gold ring in a pig’s snout

is a beautiful woman without discretion.

²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,

ⁱthe expectation of the wicked in wrath.

^24jOne gives ^kfreely, yet grows all the richer;

another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

^25lWhoever brings blessing ^mwill be enriched,

and ⁿone who waters will himself be watered.

^26oThe people curse him who holds back grain,

but ^pa blessing is on the head of him who ^qsells it.

²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,²

but evil comes to ^rhim who searches for it.

²⁸Whoever ^strusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will ^tflourish like a green leaf.

²⁹Whoever ^utroubles his own household will ^vinherit the wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

³⁰The fruit of the righteous is ^wa tree of life,

and whoever ^xcaptures souls is wise.

³¹If ^ythe righteous is repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!

12Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but he who ^zhates reproof is ^astupid.

²A good man ^bobtains favor from the Lord,

but a man of evil devices he condemns.

³No one is established by wickedness,

but the root of ^cthe righteous will never be moved.

^4dAn excellent wife is ^ethe crown of her husband,

but she who ^fbrings shame is like ^grottenness in his bones.

^5hThe thoughts of the righteous are just;

the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

⁶The words of the wicked ⁱlie in wait for blood,

but ^jthe mouth of the upright delivers them.

^7kThe wicked are ^loverthrown and are no more,

^mbut the house of the righteous will stand.

⁸A man is commended according to his good sense,

but one of twisted mind is ⁿdespised.

⁹Better to be lowly and have a servant

than to play the great man and lack bread.

^10oWhoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

^11pWhoever works his land ^qwill have plenty of bread,

^rbut he who follows ^sworthless pursuits lacks sense.

¹²Whoever is wicked covets ^tthe spoil of evildoers,

but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

¹³An evil man is ensnared ^uby the transgression of his lips, ¹

^vbut the righteous escapes from trouble.

¹⁴From the fruit of his mouth ^wa man is satisfied with good,

^xand the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

^15yThe way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice.

^16zThe vexation of a fool is known at once,

but the prudent ignores an insult.

^17aWhoever speaks² the truth gives honest evidence,

but ^ba false witness utters deceit.

^18cThere is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings ^dhealing.

¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,

but ^ea lying tongue is but for a moment.

²⁰Deceit is in the heart of ^fthose who devise evil,

but those who plan peace have joy.

^21gNo ill befalls the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with trouble.

^22hLying lips are ⁱan abomination to the Lord,

^jbut those who act faithfully are his delight.

^23kA prudent man conceals knowledge,

^kbut the heart of fools proclaims folly.

^24lThe hand of the diligent will rule,

while the slothful will be ^mput to forced labor.

²⁵ⁿAnxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.

²⁶One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,³

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

^27oWhoever is slothful will not roast his game,

but the diligent man will get precious wealth.⁴

^28pIn the path of righteousness is life,

and in its pathway there is no death.