Study

11. Proverbs of Solomon

    ² When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
   but with humility comes wisdom.

    ³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
   but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

    ⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
   but righteousness delivers from death.

    ⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
   but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

    ⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
   but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

    ⁷ Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
   all the promise of Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum When the wicked die, their hope perishes; / all they expected from their power comes to nothing.

    ⁸ The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
   and it falls on the wicked instead.

    ⁹ With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
   but through knowledge the righteous escape.

    ¹⁰ When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
   when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

    ¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
   but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

    ¹² Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
   but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

    ¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence,
   but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

    ¹⁴ For lack of guidance a nation falls,
   but victory is won through many advisers.

    ¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
   but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

    ¹⁶ A kindhearted woman gains honor,
   but ruthless men gain only wealth.

    ¹⁷ Those who are kind benefit themselves,
   but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

    ¹⁸ A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
   but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

    ¹⁹ Truly the righteous attain life,
   but whoever pursues evil finds death.

    ²⁰ The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse,
   but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

    ²¹ Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
   but those who are righteous will go free.

    ²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
   is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

    ²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
   but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

    ²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
   another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

    ²⁵ A generous person will prosper;
   whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

    ²⁶ People curse the one who hoards grain,
   but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

    ²⁷ Whoever seeks good finds favor,
   but evil comes to one who searches for it.

    ²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will fall,
   but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

    ²⁹ Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
   and the fool will be servant to the wise.

    ³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
   and the one who is wise saves lives.

    ³¹ If the righteous receive their due on earth,
   how much more the ungodly and the sinner!