Proverbs 11

Dishonest Scales

(Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Ezekiel 45:10–12)

¹ Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,

but an accurate weight is His delight.

² When pride comes, disgrace follows,

but with humility comes wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.

⁴ Riches are worthless in the day of wrath,

but righteousness brings deliverance from death.

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless directs their path,

but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,

but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.

⁷ When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes,

and the hope of his strength vanishes.

⁸ The righteous man is delivered from trouble;

in his place the wicked man goes in.

⁹ With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor,

but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

¹⁰ When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices,

and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is built up,

but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

¹² Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

¹³ A gossip reveals a secret,

but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

¹⁴ For lack of guidance, a nation falls,

but with many counselors comes deliverance.

¹⁵ He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,

but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.

¹⁶ A gracious woman attains honor,

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 an empty wage,

but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

¹⁹ Genuine righteousness leads to life,

but the pursuit of evil brings death.

²⁰ The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD,

but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

²¹ Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout

is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

²³ The desire of the righteous leads only to good,

but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.

²⁴ One gives freely, yet gains even more;

another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

²⁵ A generous soul will prosper,

and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

²⁶ The people will curse the hoarder of grain,

but blessing will crown the one who sells it.

²⁷ He who searches out good finds favor,

but evil will come to him who seeks it.

²⁸ He who trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

²⁹ He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

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!^a