Proverbs 11:1-Proverbs 12:28 - The Value Of Righteousness

¹ A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord,
But an accurate scale is His delight.

²
When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

³
The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them,
But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

⁴
Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment,
But righteousness rescues from death.

⁵
The righteousness of the blameless will smooth their way and keep it straight,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

⁶
The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

⁷
When the wicked man dies, his expectation will perish;
And the hope of [godless] strong men perishes.

⁸
The righteous is rescued from trouble,
And the wicked takes his place.

⁹
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge and discernment the righteous will be rescued.

¹⁰
When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

¹¹
By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

¹²
He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.

¹³
He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy and faithful keeps a matter hidden.

¹⁴
Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm],
But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.

¹⁵
He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness],
But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].

¹⁶
A gracious and good woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].

¹⁷
The merciful and generous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him],
But the cruel and callous man does himself harm.

¹⁸
The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].

¹⁹
He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life,
But he who pursues evil attains his own death.

²⁰
The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the Lord,
But those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight!

²¹
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be freed.

²²
As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a beautiful woman who is without discretion [her lack of character mocks her beauty].

²³
The desire of the righteous brings only good,
But the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.

²⁴
There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more;
And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.

²⁵
The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched,
And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown].

²⁶
The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it],
But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.

²⁷
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

²⁸
He who leans on and trusts in and is confident in his riches will fall,
But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like a green leaf.

²⁹
He who troubles (mismanages) his own house will inherit the wind (nothing),
And the foolish will be a servant to the wise-hearted.

³⁰
The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity].

³¹
If the righteous will be rewarded on the earth [with godly blessings],
How much more [will] the wicked and the sinner [be repaid with punishment]!

¹ Whoever loves instruction and discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof and correction is stupid.

²
A good man will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.

³
A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the [consistently] righteous will not be moved.

⁴
A virtuous and excellent wife [worthy of honor] is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him [with her foolishness] is like rottenness in his bones.

⁵
The thoughts and purposes of the [consistently] righteous are just (honest, reliable),
But the counsels and schemes of the wicked are deceitful.

⁶
The [malevolent] words of the wicked lie in wait for [innocent] blood [to slander],
But the mouth of the upright will rescue and protect them.

⁷
The wicked are overthrown [by their evil] and are no more,
But the house of the [consistently] righteous will stand [securely].

⁸
A man will be commended according to his insight and sound judgment,
But the one who is of a perverse mind will be despised.

⁹
Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than he who [boastfully] honors himself [pretending to be what he is not] and lacks bread.

¹⁰
A righteous man has kind regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

¹¹
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows worthless things lacks common sense and good judgment.

¹²
The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields richer fruit.

¹³
An evil man is [dangerously] ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.

¹⁴
A man will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words,
And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him [as a harvest].

¹⁵
The way of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes,
But a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel.

¹⁶
The [arrogant] fool’s anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense],
But a prudent man ignores an insult.

¹⁷
He who speaks truth [when he testifies] tells what is right,
But a false witness utters deceit [in court].

¹⁸
There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹
Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a lying tongue is [credited] only for a moment.

²⁰
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

²¹
No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.

²²
Lying lips are extremely disgusting to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

²³
A shrewd man is reluctant to display his knowledge [until the proper time],
But the heart of [over-confident] fools proclaims foolishness.

²⁴
The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.

²⁵
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.

²⁶
The righteous man is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷
The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey,
But the precious possession of a [wise] man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them].

²⁸
In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death [but immortality—eternal life].