Proverbs 11:18-31

18 The wicked man earns an empty wage, but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.^[a]

19 Genuine righteousness [leads] to life,^[b] but pursuing evil [leads] to death.

20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord, but those with blameless conduct are His delight.^[c]

21 Be assured^[d] that the wicked will not go unpunished,^[e] but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

23 The desire of the righteous [turns out] well,^[f] but the hope of the wicked [leads to] wrath.^[g]

24 One person gives freely, yet gains more;^[h] another withholds what is right, only to become poor.^[i]

25 A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.^[j]

26 People will curse anyone who hoards grain, but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.

27 The one who searches for what is good^[k] finds favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.

28 Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.^[l]

29 The one who brings ruin on his household will inherit the wind, and a fool will be a slave to someone whose heart is wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence^[m] takes lives.^[n]

31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and sinful.

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 10:2-3
• [b]. Pr 10:16-17; 19:23
• [c]. Pr 3:32; 12:22; 15:8-9,26
• [d]. Lit Hand to hand
• [e]. Pr 16:5
• [f]. Pr 10:24; Ps 37:4-5; Jr 29:11
• [g]. Pr 10:28; 11:7
• [h]. Pr 11:25; 21:26; Ps 112:9
• [i]. Pr 13:7; 22:16; 28:27
• [j]. Pr 3:9-10; Mt 10:42
• [k]. Php 4:8
• [l]. Pr 11:4; 14:11
• [m]. LXX, Syr; MT reads but a wise one
• [n]. Pr 13:2; 15:4