Proverbs 11 (ASV)

1A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight.Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.

2When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom.When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.

4Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.

5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.

7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth.When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.

8The righteous is delivered out of trouble; And the wicked cometh in his stead.The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.

9With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

12He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.

13He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

14Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.

15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure.He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.

16A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches.A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

18The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

19He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life; And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.

20They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

21Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a fair woman that is without discretion.Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

23The desire of the righteous is only good; But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.

24There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

25The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

26He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.

27He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.

28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.He 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 that is wise winneth souls.The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; How much more the wicked and the sinner!If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Proverbs 11

Dishonest Scales