Proverbs 11–12

Chapter 11

¹The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,

but he delights in accurate weights.

²Pride leads to disgrace,

but with humility comes wisdom.

³Honesty guides good people;

dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

⁴Riches won’t help on the day of judgment,

but right living can save you from death.

⁵The godly are directed by honesty;

the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

⁶The godliness of good people rescues them;

the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

⁷When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,

for they rely on their own feeble strength.

⁸The godly are rescued from trouble,

and it falls on the wicked instead.

⁹With their words, the godless destroy their friends,

but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

¹⁰The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed;

they shout for joy when the wicked die.

¹¹Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,

but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

¹²It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;

a sensible person keeps quiet.

¹³A gossip goes around telling secrets,

but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

¹⁴Without wise leadership, a nation falls;

there is safety in having many advisers.

¹⁵There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;

it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

¹⁶A gracious woman gains respect,

but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷Your kindness will reward you,

but your cruelty will destroy you.

¹⁸Evil people get rich for the moment,

but the reward of the godly will last.

¹⁹Godly people find life;

evil people find death.

²⁰The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,

but he delights in those with integrity.

²¹Evil people will surely be punished,

but the children of the godly will go free.

²²A beautiful woman who lacks discretion

is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

²³The godly can look forward to a reward,

while the wicked can expect only judgment.

²⁴Give freely and become more wealthy;

be stingy and lose everything.

²⁵The generous will prosper;

those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

²⁶People curse those who hoard their grain,

but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

²⁷If you search for good, you will find favor;

but if you search for evil, it will find you!

²⁸Trust in your money and down you go!

But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

²⁹Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.

The fool will be a servant to the wise.

³⁰The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;

a wise person wins friends.

³¹If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,

what will happen to wicked sinners?

Chapter 12

¹To learn, you must love discipline;

it is stupid to hate correction.

²The Lord approves of those who are good,

but he condemns those who plan wickedness.

³Wickedness never brings stability,

but the godly have deep roots.

⁴A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,

but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.

⁵The plans of the godly are just;

the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

⁶The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,

but the words of the godly save lives.

⁷The wicked die and disappear,

but the family of the godly stands firm.

⁸A sensible person wins admiration,

but a warped mind is despised.

⁹Better to be an ordinary person with a servant

than to be self-important but have no food.

¹⁰The godly care for their animals,

but the wicked are always cruel.

¹¹A hard worker has plenty of food,

but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.

¹²Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,

but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.

¹³The wicked are trapped by their own words,

but the godly escape such trouble.

¹⁴Wise words bring many benefits,

and hard work brings rewards.

¹⁵Fools think their own way is right,

but the wise listen to others.

¹⁶A fool is quick-tempered,

but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

¹⁷An honest witness tells the truth;

a false witness tells lies.

¹⁸Some people make cutting remarks,

but the words of the wise bring healing.

¹⁹Truthful words stand the test of time,

but lies are soon exposed.

²⁰Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;

joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

²¹No harm comes to the godly,

but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

²²The Lord detests lying lips,

but he delights in those who tell the truth.

²³The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge,

but fools broadcast their foolishness.

²⁴Work hard and become a leader;

be lazy and become a slave.

²⁵Worry weighs a person down;

an encouraging word cheers a person up.

²⁶The godly give good advice to their friends;

the wicked lead them astray.

²⁷Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,

but the diligent make use of everything they find.

²⁸The way of the godly leads to life;

that path does not lead to death.