Proverbs 11

¹ False balances are an abomination before the Lord:

but a just weight is acceptable unto him.

² Wherever pride entereth, there will be also disgrace:

but the mouth of the lowly meditateth wisdom.

³ ^[1]The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. When a just man dieth he ^[2]leaveth regret:

but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causeth joy.

⁵ Righteousness ^[3]traceth out blameless paths:

but ungodliness encountereth unjust dealing.

⁶ The righteousness of upright men delivereth them:

but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.

⁷ At the death of a just man his hope doth not perish:

but the boast of the ungodly perisheth.

⁸ A righteous man escapeth from a snare,

and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.

⁹ In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens:

but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.

¹⁰ In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth:

^[4]but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. ¹¹ ^[5]At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown.

¹² A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens:

but a sensible man is quiet.

¹³ A double-tongued man discloseth the secret counsels of an assembly:

but he that is ^[6]faithful in spirit concealeth matters.

¹⁴ They that have no ^[7]guidance fall like leaves:

but in much counsel there is safety.

¹⁵ A bad man doth harm wherever he meeteth a just man:

and he hateth the sound of safety.

¹⁶ A gracious wife ^[8]bringeth glory to her husband:

but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour.

The slothful come to want:

but the ^[9]diligent support themselves with wealth.

¹⁷ A merciful man doth good to his own soul:

but the merciless destroyeth his own body.

¹⁸ An ungodly man performeth unrighteous works:

but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.

¹⁹ A righteous son is born for life:

but the persecution of the ungodly endeth in death.

²⁰ Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord:

but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.

²¹ He that unjustly striketh hands shall not be unpunished:

but he that soweth righteousness shall receive a faithful reward.

²² As an ornament in a swine’s snout,

so is beauty to an ill-minded woman.

²³ All the desire of the righteous is good:

but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

²⁴ There are some who scatter their own, and make it more:

and there are some also who gather, yet have less.^[10]

²⁵ Every sincere soul is blessed:

but a passionate man is not graceful.

²⁶ May he that hoardeth corn leave it to the nation:

but blessing be on the head of him that giveth it.

²⁷ He that deviseth good counsels seeketh good favour:

but as for him that seeketh after evil, evil shall overtake him.

²⁸ He that trusteth in wealth shall fall;

but he that helpeth righteous men shall rise.

²⁹ ^[11]He that dealeth not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind;

and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.

³⁰ Out of the fruit of righteousness groweth a tree of life;

but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.

³¹ ^[12]If the righteous scarcely be saved,

where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Notes

11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death: Vat. omits ↩
11:3 leaveth regret: compare Heb. ↩
11:5 traceth out: Gr. rightly divideth. See 2 Tim. 2:15 ↩
11:10 but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation: Vat. omits ↩
11:11 At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted: Vat. omits ↩
11:13 faithful in spirit concealeth matters: see chapter 20:27 ↩
11:14 guidance: or, governance ↩
11:16 bringeth: Gr. raiseth ↩
11:16 diligent: Gr. manly ↩
11:24 have less: Gr. are diminished ↩
11:29 He that dealeth not graciously with his own house: see 1 Tim. 5:8 ↩
11:31 See 1 Pet. 4:18 ↩