1 A false balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.

Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.

2 W hen swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.

When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

3 T he integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the willful contrariness and crookedness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

4 R iches provide no security in any day of wrath and judgment, but righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) delivers from death.

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.

5 T he righteousness of the blameless shall rectify and make plain their way and keep it straight, but the wicked shall fall by their own wickedness.

The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

6 T he righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity and greedy desire.

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

7 W hen the wicked man dies, his hope perishes; and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.

When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.

8 T he righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead.

The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.

9 W ith his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge and superior discernment shall the righteous be delivered.

The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

10 W hen it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, but when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

11 B y the blessing of the influence of the upright and God’s favor the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 H e who belittles and despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent.

He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 H e who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy and faithful in spirit keeps the matter hidden.

A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

14 W here no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 H e who becomes security for an outsider shall smart for it, but he who hates suretyship is secure.

He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, But one who hates being surety is secure.

16 A gracious and good woman wins honor, and violent men win riches but a woman who hates righteousness is a throne of dishonor for him.

A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.

17 T he merciful, kind, and generous man benefits himself, but he who is cruel and callous brings on himself retribution.

The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

18 T he wicked man earns deceitful wages, but he who sows righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) shall have a sure reward.

The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

19 H e who is steadfast in righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) attains to life, but he who pursues evil does it to his own death.

As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

20 T hey who are willfully contrary in heart are extremely disgusting and shamefully vile in the eyes of the Lord, but such as are blameless and wholehearted in their ways are His delight!

Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.

21 A ssuredly the wicked shall not go unpunished, but the multitude of the righteous shall be delivered.

Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22 A s a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman who is without discretion.

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

23 T he desire of the righteous brings only good, but the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.

The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 T here are those who scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want.

There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

25 T he liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered.

The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

26 T he people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is upon the head of him who sells it.

The people will curse him who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27 H e who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him.

He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

28 H e who leans on, trusts in, and is confident in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish like a green bough.

He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 H e who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30 T he fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

31 B ehold, the righteous shall be recompensed on earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner! And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and wicked ?

If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.