Proverbs 11
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A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: 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 that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Proverbs 11:1-31
1A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is his delight.
2When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
7When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
8The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
17A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
18The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.
20Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
26The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
31If the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Prov. 11:1-31
1The Lord detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favor with him.
2When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
4Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
7Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
8The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.
9With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
12Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
13A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
14For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but victory is won through many advisers.
15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
16A kindhearted woman gains honor,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19Truly the righteous attain life,
but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.
22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.
31If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
A Russian friend once asked me how many tithes I give. The question startled me. “Why one tithe, of course,” I replied.
My friend then challenged me to give “three tithes,” a principle practiced by the Israelites—although not required of them. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in its doctrine on stewardship emphasizes one tithe.
The tithing principle shared by my Russian friend was simple: 10 percent for tithe, 10 percent of freewill offerings to help the church with its needs, and 10 percent for charity. The idea of giving up a third of my income stunned me initially. But, I reasoned, if the Israelites gave this amount, surely I could do the same. So I committed myself to do this for six months.
Amazingly, I never was in need of money. In fact, I managed to put more funds into savings than I ever had before.
Solomon, one of the wealthiest men who ever lived, knew the secret of this tithing principle. That’s why he said, “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (vs. 24, 25).
Andrew McChesney
Editor, Adventist Mission (as of this writing)