Proverbs 11:5-15

5 The ¹righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But ²the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will ³be caught by their own greed.

7 When a wicked man dies, his ⁴expectation will perish, And the ⁵hope of strong men perishes.

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place.

9 With his ⁶mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the ⁷righteous will be delivered.

10 When it ⁸goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

12 He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent.

13 He ⁹who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy * ¹⁰conceals a matter.

14 Where there is no ¹¹guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

15 He who is ¹²guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 3:6
• 2. Proverbs 5:22
• 3. Psalms 7:15, 16; Psalms 9:15; Ecclesiastes 10:8
• 4. Proverbs 10:28
• 5. Job 8:13, 14
• 6. Proverbs 16:29
• 7. Proverbs 11:6
• 8. Proverbs 28:12
• 9. Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 20:19; 1 Timothy 5:13
• 10. Proverbs 19:11
• 11. Proverbs 15:22; Proverbs 20:18; Proverbs 24:6
• 12. Proverbs 6:1; Proverbs 27:13

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "enters"
• [b] Lit "heart"
• [c] Lit "faithful of spirit"
• [d] Lit "deliverance"
• [e] Lit "those who strike hands"