Proverbs 11:11-21

11 When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.
12 Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense.
13 A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence.
14 Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
15 Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you'll avoid rash bargains.
16 A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot. A God-Shaped Life
17 When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
18 Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.
19 Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
20 God can't stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.
21 Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.