The Word Am I

The Proverbs

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 11 -

The lawless and the righteous

(Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Ezekiel 45:10-12)
1
A deceitful scale is an abomination with the Lord, and a fair weighing is his will.
2
Wherever arrogance may be, there too is insult. But wherever humility is, there too is wisdom.
3
The simplicity of the just shall direct them, and the rebellion of the perverse will devastate them.
4
Wealth will not profit in the day of vengeance. But justice shall liberate from death.
5
The justice of the simple shall direct his way. And the impious will fall in his impiety.(a)
6
The justice of the upright shall free them. And the iniquitous will be seized by their own treachery.
7
When the impious man is dead, there will no longer be any hope. And the expectation of the anxious will perish.
8
The just one is freed from anguish. And the impious one will be handed over instead of him.
9
The pretender deceives his friend by mouth. But the just shall be freed by knowledge.
10
In the good of the just, the city shall exult. And in the perdition of the impious, there shall be praise.(b)
11
By the blessing of the just, the city shall be exalted. And by the mouth of the impious, it will be subverted.

The faithful man and the messenger

12
Whoever despises his friend is destitute in heart. But the prudent man will remain silent.
13
Whoever walks dishonestly reveals secrets. But whoever is of a faithful soul conceals what is confided by a friend.
14
Where there is no governor, the people shall fall. But where there is much counsel, well-being shall be.
15
He will be afflicted with evil, who provides a guarantee for an outsider. But whoever is wary of traps shall be secure.
16
A gracious woman shall discover glory. And the robust will have wealth.
17
A merciful man benefits his own soul. But whoever is cruel casts out even his close relatives.
18
The impious does work with inconstancy. But for the sower of justice, there is the reward of faithfulness.
19
Clemency prepares life. And the pursuit of evils prepares death.
20
A depraved heart is abominable to the Lord. And his will is with those who walk in simplicity.
21
Hand in hand, the evil shall not be innocent. But the offspring of the just shall be saved.
22
A beautiful and senseless woman is like a gold ring in the snout of a swine.
23
The desire of the just is entirely good. The anticipation of the impious is fury.

Generous benefactor

24
Some distribute their own goods, and they become wealthier. Others seize what is not their own, and they are always in need.
25
The soul that blesses shall be made fat. And whoever inebriates will likewise be inebriated himself.
26
Whoever hides away grain shall be cursed among the people. But a blessing is upon the head of those who sell it.
27
He does well to rise early, who seeks what is good. But whoever is a seeker of evils shall be oppressed by them.
28
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall. But the just shall spring up like a green leaf.
29
Whoever troubles his own house will possess the winds. And whoever is foolish will serve the wise.
30
The fruit of the just one is the tree of life. And whoever receives souls is wise.
31
If the just are repaid upon the earth, how much more the impious and the sinner!

Footnotes

(a)11:5 The Challoner version adds ‘prosperous’ after his way. This is an indication that Challoner was perhaps working from a slightly different version of the Clementine Vulgate than the Vercellone and Hetzenauer editions used in the CPDV.(Conte)
(b)11:10 Or, ‘there shall be a eulogy.’(Conte)

The lawless and the righteous

(Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Ezekiel 45:10-12)
1
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.
2
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
3
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

The faithful man and the messenger

12
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16
A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
17
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring (a) of the righteous will be delivered.
22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Generous benefactor

24
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Footnotes

(a)11:21 or, seed
⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞