Proverbs 11:18
16 A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
- KJV
- The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
- WEB
- Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
- ASV
- The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness [hath] a sure reward.
- DARBY
- The wicked worketh a deceitful work; but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
- BLB
- A wicked one makes a reward of deception, and the one sowing righteousness [has] a wage of truth.
- ÅB
- Den ugudelige vinner en lønn som svikter, men den som sår rettferdighet, får en lønn som varer.
- OTB
- En ugudelig person tjener bedragersk lønn, men den som sår rettferdighet får en sann belønning.
- B1930
- Den ugudelige vinner en lønn som svikter, men den som sår rettferdighet, får en lønn som varer.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Galatians 6:8–9
The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 10:8
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Read in contextHosea 10:12–13
Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
Read in contextJames 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
Read in contextPsalms 126:5–6
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
Read in contextProverbs 22:8
He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
Read in contextProverbs 1:18
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
Read in contextProverbs 5:22
The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
Read in context