1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

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

2 W hen pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

When 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.

3 T he integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

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

4 R iches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

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

5 T he righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

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

6 T he righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

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

7 W hen a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

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

8 T he righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked gets into it instead.

9 A n hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

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

10 W hen it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

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

11 B y the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

By 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.

12 H e that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

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

13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

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

14 W here no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

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

15 H e that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

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

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

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.

17 T he merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

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

18 T he wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

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

19 A s righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

He 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.

20 T hey that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

They 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!

21 T hough hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Assuredly the wicked shall not go unpunished, but the multitude of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 A s a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

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

23 T he desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

The desire of the righteous brings only good, but the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.

24 T here is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

There 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.

25 T he liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

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

26 H e that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

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

27 H e that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

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

28 H e that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

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

29 H e that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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

30 T he fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

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

31 B ehold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Behold, 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 ?