Proverbs 11–12

11The Lord hates dishonest scales,

but he is pleased with honest weights.

²Pride leads only to shame;

it is wise to be humble.

³Good people will be guided by honesty;

dishonesty will destroy those who are not trustworthy.

⁴Riches will not help when it’s time to die,

but right living will save you from death.

⁵The goodness of the innocent makes life easier,

but the wicked will be destroyed by their wickedness.

⁶Doing right brings freedom to honest people,

but those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.

⁷When the wicked die, hope dies with them;

their hope in riches will come to nothing.

⁸The good person is saved from trouble;

it comes to the wicked instead.

⁹With words an evil person can destroy a neighbor,

but a good person will escape by being resourceful.

¹⁰When good people succeed, the city is happy.

When evil people die, there are shouts of joy.

¹¹Good people bless and build up their city,

but the wicked can destroy it with their words.

¹²People without good sense find fault with their neighbors,

but those with understanding keep quiet.

¹³Gossips can’t keep secrets,

but a trustworthy person can.

¹⁴Without leadership a nation falls,

but lots of good advice will save it.

¹⁵Whoever guarantees to pay somebody else’s loan will suffer.

It is safer to avoid such promises.

¹⁶A kind woman gets respect,

but cruel men get only wealth.

¹⁷Kind people do themselves a favor,

but cruel people bring trouble on themselves.

¹⁸An evil person really earns nothing,

but a good person will surely be rewarded.

¹⁹Those who are truly good will live,

but those who chase after evil will die.

²⁰The Lord hates those with evil hearts

but is pleased with those who are innocent.

²¹Evil people will certainly be punished,

but those who do right will be set free.

²²A beautiful woman without good sense

is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

²³Those who do right only wish for good,

but the wicked can expect to be defeated by God’s anger.

²⁴Some people give much but get back even more.

Others don’t give what they should and end up poor.

²⁵Whoever gives to others will get richer;

those who help others will themselves be helped.

²⁶People curse those who keep all the grain,

but they bless the one who is willing to sell it.

²⁷Whoever looks for good will find kindness,

but whoever looks for evil will find trouble.

²⁸Those who trust in riches will be ruined,

but a good person will be healthy like a green leaf.

²⁹Whoever brings trouble to his family

will be left with nothing but the wind.

A fool will be a servant to the wise.

³⁰A good person gives life to others;

the wise person teaches others how to live.

³¹Good people will be rewarded on earth,

and the wicked and the sinners will be punished.

12Anyone who loves learning accepts correction,

but a person who hates being corrected is stupid.

²The Lord is pleased with a good person,

but he will punish anyone who plans evil.

³Doing evil brings no safety at all,

but a good person has safety and security.

⁴A good wife is like a crown for her husband,

but a disgraceful wife is like a disease in his bones.

⁵The plans that good people make are fair,

but the advice of the wicked will trick you.

⁶The wicked talk about killing people,

but the words of good people will save them.

⁷Wicked people die and they are no more,

but a good person’s family continues.

⁸The wisdom of the wise wins praise,

but there is no respect for the stupid.

⁹A person who is not important but has a servant is better off

than someone who acts important but has no food.

¹⁰Good people take care of their animals,

but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

¹¹Those who work their land will have plenty of food,

but the one who chases empty dreams is not wise.

¹²The wicked want what other evil people have stolen,

but good people want to give what they have to others.

¹³Evil people are trapped by their evil talk,

but good people stay out of trouble.

¹⁴People will be rewarded for what they say,

and they will also be rewarded for what they do.

¹⁵Fools think they are doing right,

but the wise listen to advice.

¹⁶Fools quickly show that they are upset,

but the wise ignore insults.

¹⁷An honest witness tells the truth,

but a dishonest witness tells lies.

¹⁸Careless words stab like a sword,

but wise words bring healing.

¹⁹Truth will continue forever,

but lies are only for a moment.

²⁰Those who plan evil are full of lies,

but those who plan peace are happy.

²¹No harm comes to a good person,

but an evil person’s life is full of trouble.

²²The Lord hates those who tell lies

but is pleased with those who keep their promises.

²³Wise people keep what they know to themselves,

but fools can’t keep from showing how foolish they are.

²⁴Hard workers will become leaders,

but those who are lazy will be slaves.

²⁵Worry is a heavy load,

but a kind word cheers you up.

²⁶Good people take advice from their friends,

but an evil person is easily led to do wrong.

²⁷The lazy catch no food to cook,

but a hard worker will have great wealth.

²⁸Doing what is right is the way to life,

but there is another way that leads to death.