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11 A false balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.(A)

When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the willful contrariness and crookedness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

Riches provide no security in any day of wrath and judgment, but righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) delivers from death.(B)

The righteousness of the blameless shall rectify and make plain their way and keep it straight, but the wicked shall fall by their own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright [their rectitude in every area and relation] shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity and greedy desire.

When the wicked man dies, his hope [for the future] perishes; and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.

The [uncompromisingly] righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead.

With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge and superior discernment shall the righteous be delivered.

10 When it goes well with the [uncompromisingly] righteous, the city rejoices, but when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11 By the blessing of the influence of the upright and God’s favor [because of them] the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who belittles and despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent.

13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy and faithful in spirit keeps the matter hidden.

14 Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 He who becomes security for an outsider shall smart for it, but he who hates suretyship is secure [from its penalties].

16 A gracious and good woman wins honor [for her husband], and violent men win riches but [a]a woman who hates righteousness is a throne of dishonor for him.

17 The merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution.

18 The wicked man earns deceitful wages, but he who sows righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) shall have a sure reward [permanent and satisfying].(C)

19 He who is steadfast in righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) attains to life, but he who pursues evil does it to his own death.

20 They who are willfully contrary in heart are extremely disgusting and shamefully vile in the eyes of the Lord, but such as are blameless and wholehearted in their ways are His delight!

21 Assuredly [I pledge it] the wicked shall not go unpunished, but the multitude of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman who is without discretion.

23 The desire of the [consistently] righteous brings only good, but the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.

24 There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want.

25 The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered.(D)

26 The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it], but a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.

27 He who diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him.

28 He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident in his riches shall fall, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like a green bough.

29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men—he gathers and receives them for eternity].(E)

31 Behold, the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be recompensed on earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner! And [b]if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and wicked?(F)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:16 The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) so reads at this point.
  2. Proverbs 11:31 The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) so reads at this point.

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,(C)
    but with humility comes wisdom.(D)

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

Wealth(F) is worthless in the day of wrath,(G)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(H)

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)

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

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;(L)
    all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.(M)

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(O)

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

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

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(T)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(U)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(V)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(W)

14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(X)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(Y)

15 Whoever puts up security(Z) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(AA)

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(AB)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.(AC)

19 Truly the righteous attain life,(AD)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.(AE)

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(AF)
    but he delights(AG) in those whose ways are blameless.(AH)

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

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

25 A generous(AJ) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(AK)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(AL)

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,(AM)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(AN)

29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.(AO)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AP)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

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

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from