Proverbs 11

Watch What You Say and Do

11 The Lord hates anyone
who cheats,
    but he likes everyone
        who is honest.
² Too much pride
    can put you to shame.
        It’s wiser to be humble.
³ If you do the right thing,
        honesty will be your guide.
    But if you are crooked,
    you will be trapped
        by your own dishonesty.

⁴ When God is angry,
        money won’t help you.
    Obeying God is the only way
        to be saved from death.
⁵ If you are truly good,
        you will do right;
    if you are wicked,
    you will be destroyed
        by your own sin.
⁶ Honesty can keep you safe,
    but if you can’t be trusted,
        you trap yourself.
⁷ When the wicked die,
        their hopes die with them.
⁸ Trouble goes right past
    the Lord’s people
        and strikes the wicked.

⁹ Dishonest people use gossip
        to destroy their neighbors;
    good people are protected
        by their own good sense.
¹⁰ When honest people prosper
    and the wicked disappear,
        the whole city celebrates.
¹¹ When God blesses his people,
        their city prospers,
    but deceitful liars
        can destroy a city.

¹² It’s stupid to say bad things
        about your neighbors.
    If you are sensible,
        you will keep quiet.
¹³ A gossip tells everything,
    but a true friend
        will keep a secret.
¹⁴ A city without wise leaders
        will end up in ruin;
    a city with many wise leaders
        will be kept safe.

¹⁵ It’s a dangerous thing
        to guarantee payment
    for someone’s debts.
        Don’t do it!
¹⁶ A gracious woman
        will be respected,
    but a man must work hard
        to get rich.
¹⁷ Kindness is rewarded—
    but if you are cruel,
        you hurt yourself.
¹⁸ Meanness gets you nowhere,
        but goodness is rewarded.
¹⁹ Always do the right thing,
        and you will live;
    keep on doing wrong,
        and you will die.

²⁰ The Lord hates sneaky people,
    but he likes everyone
        who lives right.
²¹ You can be sure of this:
    All crooks will be punished,
        but God’s people won’t.
²² A beautiful woman
        who acts foolishly
    is like a gold ring
        on the snout of a pig.
²³ Good people want what is best,
    but troublemakers
        hope to stir up trouble.

²⁴ Sometimes you can become rich
    by being generous
        or poor by being greedy.
²⁵ Generosity will be rewarded:
        Give a cup of water,
    and you will receive
        a cup of water in return.
²⁶ Charge too much for grain,
        and you will be cursed;
    sell it at a fair price,
        and you will be praised.
²⁷ Try hard to do right,
        and you will win friends;
    go looking for trouble,
        and you will find it.
²⁸ Trust in your wealth,
        and you will be a failure,
    but God’s people will prosper
        like healthy plants.

²⁹ Fools who cause trouble
    in the family
        won’t inherit a thing.
    They will end up as slaves
        of someone with good sense.
³⁰ Live right, and you will eat
        from the life-giving tree.
    And if you act wisely,
        others will follow.
³¹ If good people are rewarded
        here on this earth,
    all who are cruel and mean
        will surely be punished.