# Proverbs 11.16
**Book:** [Proverbs](/codex/proverbs/) · NASB95
## Immediate context (±2 verses)
**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 14. Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. 15. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure.
>
> **16. A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches.**
>
> 17. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18. The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward. (Proverbs 11:14-18, ASV)
**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 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. (Proverbs 11:14-18, WEB)
**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 14. Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. 15. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. smart: Heb. be sore broken suretiship: Heb. those that strike hands
>
> **16. A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.**
>
> 17. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. (Proverbs 11:14-18, KJV)
**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 14. Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance [is] in a multitude of counsellors. 15. Evil [one] suffereth when he hath been surety [for] a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.
>
> **16. A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible [men] retain riches.**
>
> 17. A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh. 18. The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso is sowing righteousness, a true reward. (Proverbs 11:14-18, YLT)
## Setting
- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_
## Theological reading
_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._
## Key words
_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
## Quoted in
**Lexicon:**
- [H2580 - chen](/codex/h2580-chen/)
---
_Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_
## Why these four translations
ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.
The four:
- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.
See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.