1 A false balance is an abomination 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 pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.

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

3 T he integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

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

4 R iches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.

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

5 T he righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his 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 will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

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

7 W hen a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong men perishes.

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

8 T he righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place.

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 the righteous will 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, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.

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 upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

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

12 H e who 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 conceals a matter.

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

14 W here there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

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

15 H e who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.

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

16 A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches.

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

17 T he merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.

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

18 T he wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true 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 will attain to life, And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.

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

20 T he perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their walk 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 evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will 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 beautiful woman who lacks 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 is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

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

24 T here is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet 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 generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.

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

26 H e who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on 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 seeks evil, evil will come to him.

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

28 H e who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

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

29 H e who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.

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 wins souls.

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

31 I f the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner!

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