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Listen to Proverbs 11:11-29
11By the blessing of the upright the city is (A)exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12He who [a]is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13(B)A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit (C)conceals a matter.
14(D)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15He who is (E)surety[b] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates [c]being surety is secure.
16A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17(F)The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18The wicked man does deceptive work,
But (G)he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19As righteousness leads to (H)life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own (I)death.
20Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21(J)Though they join [d]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But (K)the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks [e]discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked (L)is wrath.
24There is one who (M)scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25(N)The generous soul will be made rich,
(O)And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26The people will curse (P)him who withholds grain,
But (Q)blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27He who earnestly seeks good [f]finds favor,
(R)But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
28(S)He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But (T)the righteous will flourish like foliage.
29He who troubles his own house (U)will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be (V)servant to the wise of heart.
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:12 Lit. lacks heart
- Proverbs 11:15 guaranty
- Proverbs 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike hands
- Proverbs 11:21 Lit. hand to hand
- Proverbs 11:22 taste
- Proverbs 11:27 Lit. seeks
Cross references
- Proverbs 11:11 : Prov. 14:34
- Proverbs 11:13 : Lev. 19:16; Prov. 20:19; 1 Tim. 5:13
- Proverbs 11:13 : Prov. 19:11
- Proverbs 11:14 : 1 Kin. 12:1
- Proverbs 11:15 : Prov. 6:1, 2
- Proverbs 11:17 : [Matt. 5:7; 25:34–36]
- Proverbs 11:18 : Hos. 10:12; [Gal. 6:8, 9]; James 3:18
- Proverbs 11:19 : Prov. 10:16; 12:28
- Proverbs 11:19 : Prov. 21:16; [Rom. 6:23; James 1:15]
- Proverbs 11:21 : Prov. 16:5
- Proverbs 11:21 : Ps. 112:2; Prov. 14:26
- Proverbs 11:23 : Prov. 10:28; Rom. 2:8, 9
- Proverbs 11:24 : Ps. 112:9; Prov. 13:7; 19:17
- Proverbs 11:25 : Prov. 3:9, 10; [2 Cor. 9:6, 7]
- Proverbs 11:25 : [Matt. 5:7]
- Proverbs 11:26 : Amos 8:5, 6
- Proverbs 11:26 : Job 29:13
- Proverbs 11:27 : Esth. 7:10; Ps. 7:15, 16; 57:6
- Proverbs 11:28 : Job 31:24
- Proverbs 11:28 : Ps. 1:3; Jer. 17:8
- Proverbs 11:29 : Eccl. 5:16
- Proverbs 11:29 : Prov. 14:19
11Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(A)
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(B)
12Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(C)
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(D)
13A gossip betrays a confidence,(E)
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(F)
14For lack of guidance a nation falls,(G)
but victory is won through many advisers.(H)
15Whoever puts up security(I) for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(J)
16A kindhearted woman gains honor,(K)
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.(L)
19Truly the righteous attain life,(M)
but whoever pursues evil finds death.(N)
20The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(O)
but he delights(P) in those whose ways are blameless.(Q)
21Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.(R)
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(S) person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(T)
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.(U)
28Those who trust in their riches will fall,(V)
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.(W)
29Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.(X)
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Cross references
- Proverbs 11:11 : Pr 14:34
- Proverbs 11:11 : Pr 29:8
- Proverbs 11:12 : Pr 14:21
- Proverbs 11:12 : S Job 6:24
- Proverbs 11:13 : Pr 20:19
- Proverbs 11:13 : S Pr 10:14
- Proverbs 11:14 : Pr 20:18
- Proverbs 11:14 : S 2Sa 15:34; Pr 15:22; 24:6
- Proverbs 11:15 : S Pr 6:1
- Proverbs 11:15 : Pr 17:18; 22:26-27
- Proverbs 11:16 : Pr 31:31
- Proverbs 11:18 : S Ex 1:20; S Job 4:8; Hos 10:12-13
- Proverbs 11:19 : S Dt 30:15; S Pr 10:2
- Proverbs 11:19 : 1Sa 2:6; Ps 89:48; Pr 1:18-19; Ecc 7:2; Jer 43:11
- Proverbs 11:20 : Pr 3:32
- Proverbs 11:20 : S Nu 14:8
- Proverbs 11:20 : S 1Ch 29:17; S Ps 15:2; 101:1-4; S 119:1; Pr 12:2, 22; 15:9
- Proverbs 11:21 : Pr 16:5
- Proverbs 11:25 : 1Ch 29:17; Isa 32:8
- Proverbs 11:25 : Pr 22:9; 2Co 9:6-9
- Proverbs 11:27 : Ps 7:15-16
- Proverbs 11:28 : Job 31:24-28; S Ps 49:6; S 52:7; 62:10; Jer 9:23; 48:7
- Proverbs 11:28 : Ps 52:8; 92:12-14
- Proverbs 11:29 : Pr 14:19
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
