Proverbs 11–12

¹¹A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

but an accurate weight is his delight.^*

²When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but wisdom is with the humble.^*

³The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.^*

⁴Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.^*

⁵The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,

but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

⁶The righteousness of the upright saves them,

but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.^*

⁷When the wicked die, hope perishes,

and the expectation of strength comes to nothing.^*

⁸The righteous are delivered from trouble,

and the wicked come into it instead.^*

⁹With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

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

and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.^*

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

but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.^*

¹²Whoever belittles another lacks sense,

but an intelligent person remains silent.^*

¹³A gossip goes about telling secrets,

but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.^*

¹⁴Where there is no guidance, a nation^g falls,

but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.^*

¹⁵To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,

but there is safety in refusing to do so.

¹⁶A gracious woman gets honor,

but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.^h

The timid become destitute,ⁱ

but the aggressive gain riches.^*

¹⁷Those who are kind reward themselves,

but the cruel do themselves harm.

¹⁸The wicked earn no real gain,

but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.^*

¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,

but whoever pursues evil will die.

²⁰Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,

but those of blameless ways are his delight.^*

²¹Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,

but those who are righteous will escape.^*

²²Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout

is a beautiful woman without good sense.

²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good,

the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

²⁴Some give freely yet grow all the richer;

others withhold what is due and only suffer want.^*

²⁵A generous person will be enriched,

and one who gives water will get water.^*

²⁶The people curse those who hold back grain,

but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.^*

²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,

but evil comes to the one who searches for it.^*

²⁸Those who trust in their riches will wither,^j

but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.^*

²⁹Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise.

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

and the wise capture souls.^*

³¹If the righteous are repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!^*

¹²Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.^*

²The good obtain favor from the Lord,

but those who devise evil he condemns.^*

³No one finds security by wickedness,

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

⁴A good wife is the crown of her husband,

but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.^*

⁵The thoughts of the righteous are just;

the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

⁶The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,

but the speech of the upright delivers them.^*

⁷The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

but the house of the righteous will stand.^*

⁸One is commended for good sense,

but a perverse mind is despised.

⁹Better to be despised and have produce^k

than to be self-important and lack food.

¹⁰The righteous know the needs of their animals,

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.^*

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

but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.^*

¹²The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness,^l

but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

¹³The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,

but the righteous escape from trouble.^*

¹⁴From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,

and manual labor has its reward.^*

¹⁵Fools think their own way is right,

but the wise listen to advice.^*

¹⁶Fools show their anger at once,

but the prudent ignore an insult.^*

¹⁷Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,

but a false witness speaks deceitfully.^*

¹⁸Rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.^*

¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.^*

²⁰Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,

but those who counsel peace have joy.^*

²¹No harm happens to the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with trouble.^*

²²Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

but those who act faithfully are his delight.^*

²³One who is clever conceals knowledge,

but the mind of a fool^m broadcasts folly.^*

²⁴The hand of the diligent will rule,

while the lazy will be put to forced labor.

²⁵Anxiety weighs down the human heart,

but a good word cheers it up.^*

²⁶The righteous are released from misfortune,ⁿ

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷The lazy do not roast^o their game,

but the diligent obtain precious wealth.^p

²⁸In the path of righteousness there is life;

in walking its path there is no death.^*