Proverbs 11
1 False balances are an abomination
before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto him.
2 Wherever pride enters, there will be
also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.aSee Appendix.
3 bthe Alexandrine text reads: “The integrity of the upright shall guide
them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them.”When a just man dies he
cComp. Heb.leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
5 Righteousness
dGr. right divides.traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.
6 The righteousness of upright men
delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
7 At the death of a just man his hope
does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
8 A righteous man escapes from a
snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
9 In the mouth of ungodly men is a
snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
10 In the prosperity of righteous men
a city prospers:eSee Appendix which gives the Alexandrine text as: “[note - Part of verse
10.]— but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation.”
11 but by the mouths of ungodly men
it is overthrown.
12 A man void of understanding sneers
at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
13 A double-tongued man discloses the
secret counsels of an assembly: but he that is
fSee chap 20. 27.faithful in spirit conceals matters.
14 They that have no
gOr, governance.guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.
15 A bad man does harm wherever he
meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
16 A gracious wife
hGr. raises.brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of
dishonour. The slothful come to want: but the
iGr. manly.diligent support themselves with wealth.
17 A merciful man does good to his
own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.
18 An ungodly man performs
unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
19 A righteous son is born for life:
but the persecution of the ungodly ends in death.
20 Perverse ways are an abomination
to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to
him. 21 He that unjustly strikes
hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness shall receive a
faithful reward. 22 As an ornament in
a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded woman.
23 All the desire of the righteous is
good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
24 There are
some who scatter their own, and make it more: and
there are some also who gather,
yet have less.jGr. diminished.
25 Every sincere soul is blessed: but
a passionate man is not graceful.
26 May he that hoards corn leave it
to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives
it. 27 He
that devises good counsels seeks good favour: but
as for him that seeks after evil,
evil shall overtake him.
28 He that trusts in wealth shall
fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.kSee 1 Tim. 5. 8.
29 He that deals not graciously with
his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the
wise man. 30 Out of the fruit of
righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off
before their time. 31 lSee 1 Pet.If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner
appear?
Footnotes
a11:2 See Appendix.
b11:3 the Alexandrine text reads: “The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them.”
c11:3 Comp. Heb.
d11:5 Gr. right divides.
e11:10 See Appendix which gives the Alexandrine text as: “[note - Part of verse 10.]— but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation.”
f11:13 See chap 20. 27.
g11:14 Or, governance.
h11:16 Gr. raises.
i11:16 Gr. manly.
j11:24 Gr. diminished.
k11:28 See 1 Tim. 5. 8.
l11:31 See 1 Pet.