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Proverbs 11
New King James Version

### The Folly of Wickedness

11 (A)Dishonest[a] scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a [b]just weight is His delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes (B)shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright will guide (C)them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4 (D)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But (E)righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will [c]direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own (F)wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will (G)perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8 (H)The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 (I)When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is (J)exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who [d]is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 (K)A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit (L)conceals a matter.

14 (M)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 He who is (N)surety[e] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates [f]being surety is secure.

16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17 (O)The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked man does deceptive work,
But (P)he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to (Q)life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own (R)death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21 (S)Though they join [g]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But (T)the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks [h]discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked (U)is wrath.

24 There is one who (V)scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25 (W)The generous soul will be made rich,
(X)And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26 The people will curse (Y)him who withholds grain,
But (Z)blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27 He who earnestly seeks good [i]finds favor,
(AA)But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

28 (AB)He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But (AC)the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 He who troubles his own house (AD)will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be (AE)servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And (AF)he who [j]wins souls is wise.

31 (AG)If the righteous will be [k]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

#### Footnotes

1. Proverbs 11:1 deceptive
2. Proverbs 11:1 Lit. perfect stone
3. Proverbs 11:5 Or make smooth or straight
4. Proverbs 11:12 Lit. lacks heart
5. Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
6. Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands
7. Proverbs 11:21 Lit. hand to hand
8. Proverbs 11:22 taste
9. Proverbs 11:27 Lit. seeks
10. Proverbs 11:30 Lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf. 1 Sam. 16:11
11. Proverbs 11:31 rewarded

#### Cross references

1. Proverbs 11:1 : Lev. 19:35, 36; Deut. 25:13–16; Prov. 20:10, 23; Mic. 6:11
2. Proverbs 11:2 : Prov. 16:18; 18:12; 29:23
3. Proverbs 11:3 : Prov. 13:6
4. Proverbs 11:4 : Prov. 10:2; Ezek. 7:19; Zeph. 1:18
5. Proverbs 11:4 : Gen. 7:1
6. Proverbs 11:5 : Prov. 5:22
7. Proverbs 11:7 : Prov. 10:28
8. Proverbs 11:8 : Prov. 21:18
9. Proverbs 11:10 : Prov. 28:12
10. Proverbs 11:11 : Prov. 14:34
11. Proverbs 11:13 : Lev. 19:16; Prov. 20:19; 1 Tim. 5:13
12. Proverbs 11:13 : Prov. 19:11
13. Proverbs 11:14 : 1 Kin. 12:1
14. Proverbs 11:15 : Prov. 6:1, 2
15. Proverbs 11:17 : [Matt. 5:7; 25:34–36]
16. Proverbs 11:18 : Hos. 10:12; [Gal. 6:8, 9]; James 3:18
17. Proverbs 11:19 : Prov. 10:16; 12:28
18. Proverbs 11:19 : Prov. 21:16; [Rom. 6:23; James 1:15]
19. Proverbs 11:21 : Prov. 16:5
20. Proverbs 11:21 : Ps. 112:2; Prov. 14:26
21. Proverbs 11:23 : Prov. 10:28; Rom. 2:8, 9
22. Proverbs 11:24 : Ps. 112:9; Prov. 13:7; 19:17
23. Proverbs 11:25 : Prov. 3:9, 10; [2 Cor. 9:6, 7]
24. Proverbs 11:25 : [Matt. 5:7]
25. Proverbs 11:26 : Amos 8:5, 6
26. Proverbs 11:26 : Job 29:13
27. Proverbs 11:27 : Esth. 7:10; Ps. 7:15, 16; 57:6
28. Proverbs 11:28 : Job 31:24
29. Proverbs 11:28 : Ps. 1:3; Jer. 17:8
30. Proverbs 11:29 : Eccl. 5:16
31. Proverbs 11:29 : Prov. 14:19
32. Proverbs 11:30 : Prov. 14:25; [Dan. 12:3; 1 Cor. 9:19–22; James 5:20]
33. Proverbs 11:31 : Jer. 25:29

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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