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

Al Señor le repugnan las pesas falsas, pero le agradan las pesas cabales.

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.

Con la soberbia llega también la deshonra, pero la sabiduría acompaña a los humildes.

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

La integridad guía a los hombres rectos pero la perversidad destruye a los pecadores.

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

De nada sirven las riquezas en el día de la ira, pero la justicia te librará de la muerte.

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.

La justicia corrige el rumbo del hombre cabal, pero el impío tropieza por su maldad.

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

La justicia de los rectos los pone a salvo, pero a los pecadores los atrapa su pecado.

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

Con el malvado muere su esperanza; muere la expectación de los malvados.

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

El justo se libra de la tribulación, y su lugar lo ocupa el impío.

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

El impío daña a su prójimo con sus labios, pero a los justos los salva la sabiduría.

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

Si a los justos les va bien, la ciudad se alegra; también hay fiesta cuando los impíos perecen.

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.

La bendición de los justos enaltece a la ciudad; la boca de los impíos la trastorna.

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

El falto de cordura menosprecia a su prójimo; el hombre prudente sabe guardar silencio.

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

Quien es chismoso da a conocer el secreto; quien es ecuánime es también reservado.

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

Cuando no hay buen guía, la gente tropieza; La seguridad depende de los muchos consejeros.

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

Avala a un extraño y vivirás angustiado; evita dar fianzas y vivirás tranquilo.

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.

La mujer agraciada acrecienta su honra; la gente violenta acrecienta sus riquezas.

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

El hombre de bien se hace bien a sí mismo; el hombre cruel a sí mismo se hace daño.

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.

Las obras del malvado no tienen sustento; sembrar la justicia tiene un premio seguro.

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.

La justicia conduce a la vida, y seguir el mal conduce a la muerte.

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!

El Señor detesta al corazón perverso, pero ama a los que van por el camino recto.

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

Tarde o temprano, el malvado será castigado, pero los justos y los suyos saldrán bien librados.

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

La mujer bella pero fatua es como argolla de oro en hocico de cerdo.

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

Los justos sólo abrigan buenos deseos; la esperanza de los impíos es el enojo.

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.

A quienes reparten, más se les da; los tacaños acaban en la pobreza.

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

El que es magnánimo, prospera; el que sacia a otros, será saciado.

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

Al que acapara el trigo, el pueblo lo maldice, pero bendice al que lo vende.

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

El que procura el bien, es bien favorecido; al que procura el mal, el mal le sobreviene.

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.

El que confía en sus riquezas, fracasa; los justos, en cambio, reverdecen como ramas.

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

El que trastorna su casa hereda el viento; el necio acaba siendo esclavo del sabio.

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

El fruto del justo es árbol de vida; el que arrebata la vida no es sabio.

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 ?

El justo recibe su recompensa en la tierra, ¡y también el impío y el pecador!