1. Operate Honestly, Fairly, and with Integrity
“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.”
Proverbs 11:1 ESV
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”
Proverbs 11:3 ESV
“The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.”
Proverbs 11:18-19 ESV
(A person who operates illegally will “trouble his own house”)
“Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.”
Proverbs 11:29 ESV
2. Seek righteousness associations and shun wicked ones
“The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.”
Proverbs 11:5 ESV
“Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.”
Proverbs 11:15 ESV
“Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.”
Proverbs 11:20 ESV
“Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.”
Proverbs 11:21 ESV
Be careful of your associations with the opposite sex
“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.”
Proverbs 11:22 ESV
(A person who has wicked associations will “trouble his own house”)
“Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.”
Proverbs 11:29 ESV
3. Seek wise counselors
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Proverbs 11:14 ESV
“Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Proverbs 15:22
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:20-21
“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
Proverbs 28:26
Note: There are so many verses on this topic. Here is a great list of many others: https://www.openbible.info/topics/wise_counsel
4. Operate with Wisdom to avoid trouble
“The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.”
Proverbs 11:8 ESV
(A person who operates foolishly will “trouble his own house”)
“Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.”
Proverbs 11:29 ESV
5. Be careful with your mouth
“With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.”
Proverbs 11:9 ESV
“Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.”
Proverbs 11:12 ESV
“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.”
Proverbs 11:13 ESV
6. Bless your community and seek to do good
“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.”
Proverbs 11:10-11 ESV
“Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.”
Proverbs 11:27 ESV
7. Be loving, kind, and generous
“A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.”
Proverbs 11:17 ESV
“A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.”
Proverbs 11:16 ESV
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.”
Proverbs 11:24 ESV
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Proverbs 11:25 ESV
“The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.”
Proverbs 11:26 ESV
“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 3:3-4 ESV
8. Conduct yourself with Humility
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”
Proverbs 11:2 ESV
9. Don’t trust in Riches
“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
Proverbs 11:4 ESV
“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”
Proverbs 11:28 ESV
10. Beware that ambition and desire do not devolve into lust
“The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.”
Proverbs 11:6 ESV
“The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.”
Proverbs 11:23 ESV
11. Seek first the Kingdom of God
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”
Proverbs 11:30 ESV
12. Know that you will harvest what you sow
“If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!”
Proverbs 11:31 ESV