Proverbs 11

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Proverbs 11 contrasts the behaviors and outcomes of the righteous and the wicked across various aspects of daily life. The text details how honesty, integrity, and generosity lead to stability and community well-being, while deceit, pride, and cruelty result in ruin. It addresses social interactions, such as guarding secrets, offering counsel, and avoiding dangerous financial guarantees. Furthermore, the chapter records specific physical and social consequences associated with different moral choices among individuals and cities.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight. ²When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. ³The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them. ⁴Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. 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. 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. ¹⁴For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance. 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. 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. 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. ²⁵A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. 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. 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. ³¹If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.