Proverbs 11

Dishonest scales are an abomination

Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.a ²When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.b ³The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.c

⁴Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.d ⁵The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.

⁷When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes. ⁸The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.e ⁹With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

¹⁰When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. ¹²Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.

¹³A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.f ¹⁴For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.g ¹⁵He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.

¹⁶A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. ¹⁷A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. ¹⁸The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.h

¹⁹Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death. ²⁰The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight. ²¹Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.i

²²Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. ²³The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath. ²⁴One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.j

²⁵A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.k ²⁶The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it. ²⁷He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.

²⁸He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.l ²⁹He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. ³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.m

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