Proverbs 11 - Easy To Read Version

¹ \{Some people use scales that don’t weigh things properly. They use those scales to cheat people.\} The Lord hates those false scales. But accurate scales please the Lord.

² People that are proud and boast will become unimportant. But people who are humble will also become wise.

³ Good, honest people are guided by honesty. But evil people destroy themselves when they cheat other people.

⁴ On the day God judges people, money is worth nothing. But goodness will save people from death.

⁵ If a good person is honest, then his life will be easy. But an evil person is destroyed by the bad things he does.

⁶ Goodness saves the honest person. But evil people are trapped by the bad things they want.

⁷ After an evil man dies, there is no hope for him. Everything he hoped for is gone—all of it is worth nothing.

⁸ A good person will escape trouble, and that trouble will happen to some evil person.

⁹ An evil person can hurt other people by the things he says. But good people are protected by their wisdom.

¹⁰ When good people are successful, all the city is happy. When evil people are destroyed, people shout with joy.

¹¹ A city becomes great when the honest people living there give it their blessing. But the things an evil person says can destroy a city.

¹² A person without good sense says bad things about his neighbors. But a wise man knows when to be quiet.

¹³ Any person who tells secrets about other people can’t be trusted. But a person that can be trusted does not spread gossip.

¹⁴ A nation with weak leaders will fall. But many good advisers will make that nation safe.

¹⁵ If you promise to pay another person’s debt, then you will be sorry. You will be safe if you refuse to make those deals.

¹⁶ A kind, gentle woman gains respect. Pushy men gain only money.

¹⁷ A kind man will profit. But a mean man will cause trouble for himself.

¹⁸ An evil man cheats people and takes their money. But a person that is fair and does right will get the real reward.

¹⁹ Truly, goodness brings life. But evil people chase after evil and find death.

²⁰ The Lord hates people that love to do evil. But he is happy with people that try to do right.

²¹ It is true that evil people will surely be punished. And good people will be made free.

²² If a woman is beautiful but foolish, it is the same as a beautiful gold ring in a pig’s nose.

²³ When good people get what they want, it brings more good. But when evil people get what they want, it brings only trouble.

²⁴ If a person gives freely, then he will gain even more. But if a person refuses to give, then he will become poor.

²⁵ A person who gives freely will profit. If you help others, then you will gain more for yourself.

²⁶ People become angry at a greedy man who refuses to sell his grain. But they are happy with a man who sells his grain to feed other people.

²⁷ People respect a person who tries to do good. But a person who does evil gets nothing but trouble.

²⁸ The person who trusts in his riches will fall like a dead leaf. But the good person will grow like a new green leaf.

²⁹ If a person causes trouble for his family, then he will gain nothing. And in the end, the foolish person will be forced to serve the wise person.

³⁰ The things a good man does are like the Tree of Life. {\cf2\super [14]} A wise man gives new life to people. {\cf2\super [15]}