The chapter opens with economic righteousness: dishonest scales are detestable to the LORD, but accurate weights find his favor. Pride brings disgrace, while humility brings wisdom. Integrity guides the upright, but duplicity destroys the unfaithful. Wealth cannot save in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, while the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
Proverbs 11:1
1 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 11:3
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
Proverbs 11:4
4 Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:5
5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Proverbs 11:6
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
The hopes of the wicked perish at death, while the righteous are rescued from trouble. The godless destroy neighbors with their mouths, but the righteous are delivered through knowledge. The city rejoices when the righteous prosper and shouts for joy when the wicked perish. Upright people exalt the city, but the mouth of the wicked destroys it. The one who derides a neighbor lacks sense, while a person of understanding holds the tongue. A gossip betrays confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
Proverbs 11:7
7 When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
Proverbs 11:8
8 A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
Proverbs 11:9
9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
Proverbs 11:10
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
Proverbs 11:11
11 By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 11:12
12 One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
Proverbs 11:13
13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
Without guidance a nation falls, but victory comes through many advisers. The one who puts up security for a stranger suffers, while the one who refuses rash pledges is safe. A kindhearted woman gains honor, ruthless people gain only wealth, the kind benefit themselves, and the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
Proverbs 11:14
14 Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
Proverbs 11:15
15 He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
Proverbs 11:16
16 A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
Proverbs 11:17
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
The wicked earn deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. Righteousness leads to life, while the pursuit of evil leads to death. The LORD detests those with perverse hearts but delights in those whose ways are blameless. The wicked will not go unpunished, but the righteous will go free. Beauty without discretion is compared to a gold ring in a pig's snout. The desire of the righteous ends only in good, while the hope of the wicked ends only in wrath.
Proverbs 11:18
18 Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
Proverbs 11:19
19 He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
Proverbs 11:21
21 Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
Proverbs 11:22
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Proverbs 11:23
23 The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The chapter turns strongly to generosity. One person gives freely and gains more, while another withholds unduly and comes to poverty. A generous person prospers, and whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. People curse the one who hoards grain, but blessing crowns the one willing to sell. Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it. Trusting in riches leads to falling, while the righteous thrive like a green leaf.
Proverbs 11:24-25
24 There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
Proverbs 11:26
26 People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
Proverbs 11:27
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
Proverbs 11:28
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
The one who brings ruin on his family inherits only wind, and the fool becomes servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who wins souls is wise. The chapter closes with an a fortiori warning: if the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and sinner.
Proverbs 11:29
29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
Proverbs 11:30
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
Proverbs 11:31
31 Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!