Proverbs 11

Dishonest scales are an abomination

The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.a ²Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.b ³Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.c

⁴Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death.d ⁵The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. ⁶The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

⁷When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. ⁸The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.e ⁹With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

¹⁰The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die. ¹¹Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. ¹²It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.

¹³A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.f ¹⁴Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.g ¹⁵There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

¹⁶A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. ¹⁷Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you. ¹⁸Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.h

¹⁹Godly people find life; evil people find death. ²⁰The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity. ²¹Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.i

²²A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. ²³The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment. ²⁴Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.j

²⁵The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.k ²⁶People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need. ²⁷If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!

²⁸Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.l ²⁹Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise. ³⁰The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.m

³¹If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?n