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Proverbs 11
GOD’S WORD Translation
Proverbs 11
GOD’S WORD Translation
The Value of Righteousness
11 Dishonest scales are disgusting to the Lord,
but accurate weights are pleasing to him.
2 Arrogance comes,
then comes shame,
but wisdom remains with humble people.
3 Integrity guides decent people,
but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin.
4 Riches are of no help on the day of fury,
but righteousness saves from death.
5 The righteousness of innocent people makes their road smooth,
but wicked people fall by their own wickedness.
6 Decent people are saved by their righteousness,
but treacherous people are trapped by their own greed.
7 At the death of a wicked person, hope vanishes.
Moreover, his confidence in strength vanishes.
8 A righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and a wicked person takes his place.
9 With his talk a godless person can ruin his neighbor,
but righteous people are rescued by knowledge.
10 When righteous people prosper, a city is glad.
When wicked people die, there are songs of joy.
11 With the blessing of decent people a city is raised up,
but by the words of wicked people, it is torn down.
12 A person who despises a neighbor has no sense,
but a person who has understanding keeps quiet.
13 Whoever gossips gives away secrets,
but whoever is trustworthy in spirit can keep a secret.
14 A nation will fall when there is no direction,
but with many advisers there is victory.
15 Whoever guarantees a stranger’s loan will get into trouble,
but whoever hates the closing of a deal remains secure.
16 A gracious woman wins respect,
but ruthless men gain riches.
17 A merciful person helps himself,
but a cruel person hurts himself.
18 A wicked person earns dishonest wages,
but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay.
19 As righteousness leads to life,
so whoever pursues evil finds his own death.
20 Devious people are disgusting to the Lord,
but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent.
21 Certainly, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the descendants of righteous people will escape.
22 ⌞Like⌟ a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
⌞so⌟ is a beautiful woman who lacks good taste.
23 The desire of righteous people ends only in good,
but the hope of wicked people ends only in fury.
24 One person spends freely and yet grows richer,
while another holds back what he owes and yet grows poorer.
25 A generous person will be made rich,
and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied.[a]
26 People will curse the one who hoards grain,
but a blessing will be upon the head of the one who sells it.
27 Whoever eagerly seeks good searches for good will,
but whoever looks for evil finds it.
28 Whoever trusts his riches will fall,
but righteous people will flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever brings trouble upon his family inherits ⌞only⌟ wind,
and that stubborn fool becomes a slave to the wise in heart.
30 The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life,
and a winner of souls is wise.
31 If the righteous person is rewarded on earth,
how much more the wicked person and the sinner!
Footnotes
- 11:25 Or “and whoever gives someone a drink will also get a drink.”
Proverbs 11
New International Version
Proverbs 11
New International Version
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.(E)
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(I)
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(J)
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(K)
8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.(N)
9 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)
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)
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.
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
- Proverbs 11:7 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from
Proverbs 11
King James Version
Proverbs 11
King James Version
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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