Proverbs 11

1 The Lord abhors dishonest scales,
but accurate weights are his delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

8 The righteous man is rescued from trouble,
and it comes on the wicked instead.

9 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but many advisers make victory sure.

15 He who puts up security for another will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.

16 A kindhearted woman gains respect,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

19 The truly righteous man attains life,
but he who pursues evil goes to his death.

20 The Lord detests men of perverse heart
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

26 People curse the man who hoards grain,
but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.

27 He who seeks good finds goodwill,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

29 He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.

31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

PROVERBS 11

Watch //What You Say and Do

1 The [Lord] hates anyone
who cheats,
but he likes everyone
who is honest.

2 Too much pride
can put you to shame.
It's wiser to be humble.

3 If you do the right thing,
honesty will be your guide.
But if you are crooked,
you will be trapped
by your own dishonesty.

4 When God is angry,
money won't help you.
Obeying God is the only way
to be saved from death.

5 If you are truly good,
you will do right;
if you are wicked,
you will be destroyed
by your own sin.

6 Honesty can keep you safe,
but if you can't be trusted,
you trap yourself.

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

8 Trouble goes right past
the [Lord]'s people
and strikes the wicked.

9 Dishonest people use gossip
to destroy their neighbors;
good people are protected
by their own good sense.

10 When honest people prosper
and the wicked disappear,
the whole city celebrates.

11 Good people bring prosperity
to their city,
but deceitful liars
can destroy a city.

12 It's stupid to say bad things
about your neighbors.
If you are sensible,
you will keep quiet.

13 A gossip tells everything,
but a true friend
will keep a secret.

14  t A city without wise leaders
will end up in ruin;
a city with many wise leaders
will be kept safe.

15 It's a dangerous thing
to guarantee payment
for someone's debts.
Don't do it!

16 A gracious woman
will be respected,
but a ruthless man
will only get rich.

17 Kindness is rewarded—
but if you are cruel,
you hurt yourself.

18 Meanness gets you nowhere,
but goodness is rewarded.

19 Always do the right thing,
and you will live;
keep on doing wrong,
and you will die.

20 The [Lord] hates sneaky people,
but he likes everyone
who lives right.

21 You can be sure of this:
All crooks will be punished,
but God's people won't.

22 A beautiful woman
who acts foolishly
is like a gold ring
on the snout of a pig.

23 Good people want what is best,
but troublemakers
hope to stir up trouble.t

24 Sometimes you can become rich
by being generous
or poor by being greedy.

25 Generosity will be rewarded:
Give a cup of water,
and you will receive
a cup of water in return.

26 Charge too much for grain,
and you will be cursed;
sell it at a fair price,
and you will be praised.

27 Try hard to do right,
and you will win friends;
go looking for trouble,
and you will find it.

28 Trust in your wealth,
and you will be a failure,
but God's people will prosper
like healthy plants.

29 Fools who cause trouble
in the family
won't inherit a thing.
They will end up as slaves
of someone with good sense.

30 Live right, and you will eat
from the life-giving tree.
And if you act wisely,
others will follow.t

31  t If good people are rewardedt
here on this earth,
all who are cruel and mean
will surely be punished.