Proverbs 11-14
Expanded Bible
11 The Lord ·hates [detests] ·dishonest [fraudulent] scales,
but he is pleased with ·honest [accurate] weights [16:11; Lev. 19:35–37; Deut. 25:13–15; Ezek. 45:10; Hos. 12:7–8].
2 ·Pride [Insolence] leads only to shame;
it is wise to be humble.
3 ·Good people [People with integrity] will be guided by ·honesty [innocence];
dishonesty will ·destroy [devastate] those who are not trustworthy.
4 Riches will not help ·when it’s time to die [L on the day of anger],
but ·right living [righteousness] will save you from death.
5 The ·goodness [righteousness] of the innocent makes ·life easier [L their path straight],
but the wicked will ·be destroyed [L fall] by their wickedness.
6 ·Doing right [Righteousness] brings freedom to ·honest people [people with integrity],
but those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.
7 When the wicked die, hope ·dies with them [perishes];
their hope in riches ·will come to nothing [perishes].
8 The ·good [righteous] person is saved from ·trouble [distress];
it comes to the wicked instead.
9 With ·words [L their mouth] an ·evil [godless] person can destroy a neighbor,
but a ·good [righteous] person will escape by ·being resourceful [L their knowledge].
10 When ·good [righteous] people ·succeed [flourish], the city is happy.
When evil people ·die [perish], there are shouts of joy.
11 ·Good [Righteous] people bless and build up their city,
but the wicked can ·destroy [demolish] it with their ·words [L mouth].
12 People ·without good sense [who lack sense/heart] ·find fault with [despise; belittle] their neighbors,
but those with understanding keep quiet.
13 Gossips ·can’t keep [L go/walk around revealing] secrets,
but a trustworthy person ·can [keeps a confidence; L covers up a word].
14 Without ·leadership [guidance] a ·nation [people] falls,
but ·lots of good advice [L an abundance of counselors] will ·save it [bring victory; Eccl. 9:13–15].
15 Whoever guarantees to pay somebody else’s loan will suffer.
It is safer to avoid such promises.
16 A ·kind [gracious] woman gets ·respect [honor],
but ·cruel [violent] men get only wealth.
17 ·Kind [or Loyal] people ·do themselves a favor [benefit themselves],
but cruel people ·bring trouble on themselves [L harm their own bodies].
18 An evil person ·really earns nothing [gets false/deceptive wages],
but a ·good [righteous] person will surely be rewarded.
19 Those who are ·truly good [righteous] will live,
but those who chase after evil will die.
20 The Lord ·hates [detests] those with ·evil [crooked] hearts
but is pleased with those who are innocent on the path.
21 Evil people will certainly be punished,
but ·those who do right [L the children of the righteous] will be set free.
22 A beautiful woman without ·good sense [discretion]
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
23 Those who do right only wish for good,
but the wicked can ·expect to be defeated by God’s [L hope only for] anger.
24 Some people give much but get back even more.
Others don’t give what they should and end up poor.
25 Whoever ·gives to others will get richer [or blesses others will be refreshed];
those who ·help [satisfy] others will themselves be ·helped [satisfied].
26 People curse those who keep all the grain,
but they bless the one who is willing to sell it.
27 Whoever looks for good will find ·kindness [favor],
but whoever looks for evil will find trouble.
28 Those who trust in riches will ·be ruined [L fall],
but a good person will ·be healthy [flourish] like a green leaf.
29 Whoever brings trouble to his family
will ·be left with nothing but the [L inherit the] wind.
A fool will be a servant to the wise of heart.
30 ·A good person gives life to others [L The fruit of the righteous is the tree of life];
the wise person ·teaches others how to live [gathers lives/souls].
31 If ·good [righteous] people will get their due on earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinners.
12 Anyone who loves ·learning [knowledge] ·accepts [L loves] ·correction [instruction; discipline],
but a person who hates being corrected is stupid.
2 The Lord ·is pleased with [favors] a good person,
but he will ·punish [condemn] ·anyone who plans evil [schemers].
3 Doing evil brings no safety at all,
but ·a good person has safety and security [L the root of the righteous will not be disturbed].
4 A ·good [noble] wife is like a crown for her husband,
but a disgraceful wife is like ·a disease [rot] in his bones.
5 The plans that ·good [righteous] people make are ·fair [just],
but the ·advice [guidance] of the wicked will ·trick [deceive; defraud] you.
6 The ·wicked talk about killing people [L words of the wicked are a murderous ambush/ambush of blood],
but the ·words [mouth] of ·good [righteous] people will save them.
7 Wicked people ·die [are overturned] and they are no more,
but a ·good [righteous] person’s ·family [L house] ·continues [endures].
8 The ·wisdom [insight] of the wise wins praise,
but there is ·no respect [shame] for the ·stupid [warped; distressed mind/heart].
9 A person who is ·not important [belittled; of low regard; ordinary] but has a servant is better off
than someone who ·acts [or is thought] ·important [honorable] but has no food.
10 ·Good [Righteous] people ·take care [L know the desires] of their animals,
but even the ·kindest [most compassionate] acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 Those who work their land will have plenty of food,
but the one who chases ·empty dreams [emptiness] ·is not wise [lacks sense/heart].
12 The wicked ·want [covet; desire] ·what other evil people have stolen [or the catch/prey of the evil],
but ·good [L the root of righteous] people ·want to give what they have to others [or endures].
13 Evil people are trapped by their ·evil [offensive] talk,
but ·good [righteous] people ·stay out of trouble [escape from distress].
14 People will be rewarded for ·what they say [L the fruit of their mouth],
and they will also be rewarded for ·what they do [L the work of their hands].
15 ·Fools think they are doing right [L The path of fools is virtuous/right in their own eyes],
but the wise listen to advice.
16 Fools quickly show that they are upset,
but the ·wise [prudent] ·ignore [conceal; hide] ·insults [contempt].
17 An honest witness tells the truth,
but a dishonest witness tells lies.
18 ·Careless [Chattering] words stab like a sword,
but ·wise words bring [L a wise tongue brings] healing.
19 ·Truth [L Truthful lips] will continue forever,
but ·lies are [L a lying tongue lasts] only for a moment.
20 Those who plan evil are full of ·lies [deceit],
but those who ·plan [advise] peace are happy.
21 No harm comes to a ·good [righteous] person,
but an evil person’s life is full of trouble.
22 The Lord ·hates [detests] ·those who tell lies [false lips]
but ·is pleased with [favors] those who ·keep their promises [do what is true].
23 ·Wise [Prudent] people ·keep what they know to themselves [L conceal/hide their knowledge],
but ·fools can’t keep from showing how foolish they are [L the heart of fools proclaim their stupidity].
24 Hard workers will ·become leaders [be in charge],
but those who are lazy will be ·slaves [put to forced labor].
25 ·Worry [Anxiety] ·is a heavy load [leads to depression],
but a ·kind [good] word cheers you up.
26 ·Good [Righteous] people ·take advice from their friends [or show the way to their friends/neighbors],
but ·an evil person is easily led to do wrong [or the path of the evil person makes them wander].
27 The lazy ·catch no food to cook [L do not roast their prey],
but a hard worker will have great wealth.
28 Doing what is right is the way to life,
but there is another way that leads to death.
13 Wise ·children take their parents’ advice [L sons listen to their father’s discipline/instruction],
but ·whoever makes fun of wisdom [mockers] won’t listen to ·correction [a rebuke].
2 People will ·be rewarded for what they say [L eat well from the fruit of their mouth],
but ·those who can’t be trusted [the faithless] ·want only [L have an appetite for] violence.
3 Those who ·are careful about what they say [L watch/guard their mouth] protect their lives,
but whoever ·speaks without thinking [L spreads their lips wide] will be ruined.
4 The desire of the lazy is strong, but they get nothing,
but desire of those who work hard will be satisfied.
5 ·Good [Righteous] people hate what is false,
but the wicked do shameful and disgraceful things.
6 ·Doing what is right [Righteousness] protects the honest person on the path,
but doing evil ·ruins [or misleads] the sinner.
7 Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing.
Others pretend to be poor but really are wealthy.
8 The rich may have to pay a ransom for their lives,
but the poor will face no ·such danger [threats].
9 ·Good people can look forward to a bright future [L The light of the righteous rejoices],
but the ·future of the wicked is like a flame going [L lamp of the wicked goes] out.
10 Pride only leads to arguments [or The empty-headed cause arguments out of pride],
but those who take advice are wise.
11 Money that comes easily disappears quickly,
but money that is gathered little by little will grow.
12 ·It is sad not to get what you hoped for [L Hope delayed makes the heart sick].
But ·wishes that come true are like eating fruit from [longing fulfilled is] the tree of life.
13 Those who ·reject what they are taught [despise a word] will pay for it,
but those who ·obey what they are told [respect/fear the commandment] will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of a wise person ·gives life [L is a fountain of life]
·and can save people from death [L turning people aside from death traps/snares].
15 People with good ·understanding [insight; sense] will ·be well liked [receive favor],
but the ·lives of those who are not trustworthy are [L way of the faithless is] hard.
16 Every ·wise [prudent] person acts ·with good sense [knowledgeably],
but fools ·show how foolish they are [display stupidity].
17 A wicked messenger ·brings nothing but trouble [or will fall into evil],
but a ·trustworthy [reliable] ·one [envoy] ·makes everything right [L brings healing].
18 A person who ·refuses [neglects] ·correction [instruction; discipline] will end up poor and disgraced,
but the one who ·accepts [L guards] correction will be honored.
19 ·It is so good when wishes come true [L A realized longing/desire is pleasant],
but fools ·hate [detest] ·to stop doing [turning from] evil.
20 ·Spend time [L Walk; Go] with the wise and you will become wise,
but the friends of fools will ·suffer [or get into trouble].
21 Trouble ·always comes to [L pursues] sinners,
but ·good [righteous] people ·enjoy success [get a good reward].
22 Good people leave their wealth to their grandchildren,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for ·good [righteous] people.
23 A poor person’s ·field [soil] might produce plenty of food,
but ·others often steal it away [L it is unjustly swept away].
24 If you ·do not punish your children [L withhold/T spare the rod], you ·don’t love them [hate your children/son],
but if you love your children, you will ·correct [discipline] them.
25 ·Good [Righteous] people ·have enough to eat [eat till they are full/satisfied],
but the ·wicked will go hungry [L stomachs of the wicked will be empty].
14 A wise woman ·strengthens her family [builds her house],
but a foolish woman ·destroys hers by what she does [tears hers down with her own hands].
2 People who ·live good lives [walk in virtue/integrity] ·respect [fear] the Lord,
but those who ·live evil lives don’t [L go the wrong way on their paths despise him].
3 ·Fools will be punished for their proud words [The talk of fools is a rod for their back; or In the mouth of fools is a sprig of pride],
but the ·words [L lips] of the wise will protect them.
4 When there are no oxen, ·no food is in the barn [or the barn is empty].
But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown.
5 A truthful witness does not lie,
but a false witness tells nothing but lies.
6 ·Those who make fun of wisdom look for it [Mockers seek wisdom] and do not find it,
but knowledge comes ·easily [or quickly] to those with understanding.
7 Stay away from fools,
because they ·can’t teach you anything [L don’t have knowledgeable lips].
8 The wisdom of a ·wise [prudent] person will understand ·what to do [L his path],
but the folly of a foolish person is ·dishonest [deceptive].
9 Fools ·don’t care if they sin [L mock a penalty/guilt/reparation offering; Lev. 5:14—6:7],
but ·honest people work at being right [those with integrity/virtue are favored].
10 ·No one else can know your sadness [L A heart knows its emotional distress],
and strangers cannot share your joy.
11 The wicked person’s house will be ·destroyed [annihilated],
but a good person’s tent will ·still be standing [flourish].
12 ·Some people think they are doing right [L There is a path that seems straight to a person],
but in the end it ·leads [L is the path] to death.
13 ·Someone who is laughing may be sad inside [L Even in laughter the heart may feel pain],
and joy may end in sadness.
14 ·Evil people [L Rebellious hearts] will be paid back for their evil ·ways [paths],
and good people will be rewarded for their ·good ones [deeds].
15 ·Fools [The naive] will believe anything,
but the ·wise [prudent] ·think about what they do [understand their steps].
16 Wise people ·are careful [fear] and stay ·out of trouble [away from evil],
but fools ·are careless [or get mad] and ·quick to act [or feel safe].
17 Someone with a quick temper ·does foolish things [makes stupid mistakes],
but ·someone with understanding remains calm [or schemers are hated].
18 ·Fools [Naive people] ·are rewarded with nothing but more foolishness [L inherit stupidity],
but the wise ·are rewarded with knowledge [L wear knowledge as an ornament].
19 Evil people will bow down to those who are good;
the wicked will bow down at the ·door of those who do right [L gates of the righteous].
20 The poor are ·rejected [hated], even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends [C perhaps an ironic reference to fair-weather friends].
21 It is a sin to ·hate [despise] your neighbor,
but being ·kind [gracious] to the needy brings ·happiness [a blessing].
22 ·Those [L Do not those…?] who make evil plans ·will be ruined [L wander aimlessly],
but those who plan to do good will ·be loved and trusted [receive loyalty and faithfulness].
23 Those who work hard make a profit,
but ·those who only talk will be poor [L the word of the lips leads only to lack].
24 Wise people are ·rewarded [crowned] with wealth,
but fools only get more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a ·false witness is a traitor [deceptive person proclaims lies].
26 Those who ·respect [fear] the Lord will have ·security [or confidence],
and their children will ·be protected [have a refuge].
27 ·Respect for [Fear of] the Lord ·gives life [L is a fountain of life]
·and can save people from death [L turning people aside from death traps/snares].
28 A king is honored when he has many people to rule,
but a prince is ruined if he has none.
29 ·Patient people have great [Patience leads to] understanding,
but ·people with quick tempers show their foolishness [impatience leads to stupid mistakes].
30 ·Peace of mind [L A healthy mind/heart] means a healthy body,
but jealousy will rot your bones.
31 Whoever ·mistreats [oppresses] the poor insults their Maker,
but whoever ·is kind [shows grace] to the needy honors God.
32 The wicked are ·ruined [thrown down] by their own evil,
but those who ·do right [are righteous] ·are protected [find refuge] even in death.
33 Wisdom lives in ·those with understanding [an understanding heart/mind],
and ·even fools recognize it [or it is not known in the innards of a fool].
34 ·Doing what is right [Righteousness] makes a nation great,
but sin will ·bring disgrace to any [diminish a] people.
35 A king is pleased with a ·wise [insightful] servant,
but he will become angry with one who causes him shame.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
