Proverbs 11:17-27

17 1A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who 2sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness 3will live, but 4he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of 5crooked heart are 6an abomination to the LORD, but those of 7blameless ways are 8his delight.
21 9Be assured, 10an evil person will not go unpunished, but 11the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like 12a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good; 13the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 14One gives 15freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 16Whoever brings blessing 17will be enriched, and 18one who waters will himself be watered.
26 19The people curse him who holds back grain, but 20a blessing is on the head of him who 21sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,[a] but evil comes to 22him who searches for it.

Cross References 22

  • 1. [Matthew 5:7]; See Matthew 25:34-40
  • 2. Hosea 10:12; Galatians 6:8, 9; [James 3:18]
  • 3. Proverbs 10:16; Proverbs 19:23
  • 4. [Romans 6:23; Galatians 6:8]
  • 5. [Proverbs 17:20]
  • 6. Proverbs 12:22; Proverbs 16:5
  • 7. Proverbs 13:6; Psalms 119:1
  • 8. 1 Chronicles 29:17
  • 9. Proverbs 16:5
  • 10. Proverbs 12:7; [Psalms 37:2, 9]; See Isaiah 28:15-18
  • 11. See Psalms 112:2
  • 12. [Genesis 24:47; Isaiah 3:21; Ezekiel 16:12]
  • 13. Romans 2:8, 9
  • 14. Proverbs 13:7
  • 15. Psalms 37:21; Psalms 112:9; [Proverbs 19:17]
  • 16. See 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
  • 17. Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 28:25
  • 18. [Matthew 7:2]
  • 19. Proverbs 24:24
  • 20. [Job 29:13]
  • 21. [Genesis 42:6]
  • 22. See Psalms 7:16

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.