Proverbs 11:1-31 (NLT)
1 The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.
2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.
4 Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death.
5 The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.
6 The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.
7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.
8 The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.
10 The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die.
11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.
12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.
13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.
15 There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.
16 A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.
18 Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.
19 Godly people find life; evil people find death.
20 The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.
21 Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.
22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
23 The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.
24 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
26 People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.
27 If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!
28 Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.
29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise.
30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.
31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?
There is great potential for both frustration and wonder when we observe the prosperity and apparent success of ungodly people in positions of leadership—within homes, neighborhoods, communities, states, nations, and across the world. At times, it can seem as though the principles of justice and righteousness are not being validated when those who disregard God thrive through their own efforts, apart from any godly truth or virtue.
Wisdom, however, reveals that more is happening than what is visible in the moment. Righteousness bears fruit that leads to everlasting life, while wickedness ultimately ends in failure and collapse. Though individuals or systems that ignore God may flourish temporarily, such success cannot endure within the corrupting environment of unrighteousness.
Remaining faithful to God and His ways is choosing a path that grows brighter and brighter, while insisting on a godless way inevitably leads to a precipice of destruction. At every fork in the road, no matter how appealing the alternative may appear, the choice to leave God behind results in a steady progression toward darkness and downfall.
For those who recognize the Truth and choose to follow Him, there is a hope that will not be denied its gracious fulfillment. With each step comes the comfort of peace, joy, and a sustaining rest that renews the soul. Regardless of how circumstances may appear in the present, this path leads steadily toward a promise grounded in God’s faithfulness—our sure foundation and assurance.