Proverbs 11-14
Modern English Version
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame;
but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
but the perverseness of transgressors will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the upright will direct his way,
but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
but transgressors will be taken by their schemes.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
and the hope of unjust men perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked comes in his place.
9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the just will be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who is void of wisdom despises his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15 He who puts up a pledge for a stranger will suffer for it,
and he who hates being a pledge is secure.
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
but ruthless men retain riches.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel troubles his own body.
18 The wicked works a deceitful work,
but to him who sows righteousness will be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tends to life,
so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are abomination to the Lord,
but such as are upright in their way are His delight.
21 Though be assured, the wicked will not be unpunished,
but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout,
so is a fair woman who is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases;
and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.
25 The generous soul will be made rich,
and he who waters will be watered also himself.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,
but blessing will be upon the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good procures favor,
but he who seeks mischief, it will come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish as a branch.
29 He who troubles his own 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 will be recompensed in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner.
12 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtains favor of the Lord,
but a man of wicked devices will He condemn.
3 A man will not be established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
but she who brings shame is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right,
but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
but the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not,
but the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.
9 He who is lightly esteemed and has a servant is better
than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,
but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked covet the plunder of evil men,
but the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips,
but the just will come out of trouble.
14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but he who listens to counsel is wise.
16 A fool’s wrath is presently known,
but a prudent man covers shame.
17 He who speaks truth shows forth righteousness,
but a false witness deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The truthful lip will be established forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who imagine evil,
but to the counselors of peace is joy.
21 There will no evil happen to the just,
but the wicked will be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord,
but those who deal truly are His delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
but the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man makes it droop,
but a good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbors,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The slothful man does not roast that which he took in hunting,
but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 A man will eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
but the soul of the transgressor will eat violence.
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
but he who opens wide his lips will have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing;
but the soul of the diligent will be made fat.
5 A righteous man hates lying,
but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
6 Righteousness keeps him who is upright in the way,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
there is one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
but the poor does not hear rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 Only by pride comes contention,
but with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gained by vanity will be diminished,
but he who gathers by labor will increase.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises the word will be destroyed,
but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
to depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding gives favor,
but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge,
but a fool lays open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into mischief,
but a faithful envoy is health.
18 Poverty and shame will be to him who refuses instruction,
but he who regards reproof will be honored.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
but a companion of fools will be destroyed.
21 Evil pursues sinners,
but to the righteous good will be repaid.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor,
but for lack of justice it is destroyed.
24 He who spares his rod hates his son,
but he who loves him disciplines him early.
25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
but the stomach of the wicked will want.
14 Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean;
but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie,
but a false witness will utter lies.
6 A scorner seeks wisdom and does not find it,
but knowledge is easy to him who understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools make a mock at sin,
but among the righteous there is favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and a stranger does not share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful,
and the end of that cheer is grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
but a good man will be satisfied with his.
15 The simple believes every word,
but the prudent man considers his steps.
16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
but the fool rages and is self-confident.
17 He who is quick-tempered deals foolishly,
and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err who devise evil?
But mercy and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivers souls,
but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence,
and His children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
to depart from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is a king’s honor,
but in the lack of people is the destruction of a prince.
29 He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding,
but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh,
but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
but he who honors Him has mercy on the poor.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness,
but the righteous has hope in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
but his wrath is against him who causes shame.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.