1 T he Lord hates a false weight, but a true weight is His joy.

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

2 W hen pride comes, then comes shame, but wisdom is with those who have no pride.

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

3 T he honor of good people will lead them, but those who hurt others will be destroyed by their own false ways.

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

4 R iches are of no use in the day of God’s anger, but being right with God saves from death.

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

5 T hose right with God, who are without blame, make a straight way for themselves, but the sinful will fall by their own wrong-doing.

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

6 B eing right with God will save the honest man, but those who hurt others will be trapped by their wrong desires.

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

7 W hen a sinful man dies, his hope dies with him, and all his power comes to nothing.

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

8 T he one who is right with God is kept from trouble, but the sinful get into trouble instead.

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

9 T he sinful man destroys his neighbor with his mouth, but those who are fair will be saved through knowing God.

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

10 T he city is glad when everything goes well with those who are right with God, and there are shouts of joy when the sinful are destroyed.

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

11 A city is honored by the good things that come to the faithful, but it is torn down by the mouth of the sinful.

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

12 H e who hates his neighbor does not think well, but a man of understanding keeps quiet.

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

13 H e who is always telling stories makes secrets known, but he who can be trusted keeps a thing hidden.

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

14 A nation falls where there is no wise leading, but it is safe where there are many wise men who know what to do.

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

15 H e who puts himself as trust for what a stranger owes to another will suffer for it, but he who hates to be trusted for what another owes is safe.

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

16 A kind woman gets honor, and bad men get riches.

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

17 T he man who shows loving-kindness does himself good, but the man without pity hurts himself.

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

18 T he sinful man earns false pay, but he who spreads what is right and good gets pay that is sure.

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

19 H e who will not be moved from being right with God will live, but he who goes for what is bad 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 Lord hates those who are sinful in heart, but those who walk without blame are His joy.

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

21 K now for sure that the sinful man will not go without being punished, but the children of those who are right with God will be saved.

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

22 A beautiful woman who does not think well is like a gold ring in the nose of a pig.

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

23 T he desire of those who are right with God is only good, but the hope of the sinful is anger.

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

24 T here is one who is free in giving, and yet he grows richer. And there is one who keeps what he should give, but he ends up needing more.

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 man who gives much will have much, and he who helps others will be helped himself.

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

26 T he people curse him who keeps grain for himself, but good comes to 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 looks for good finds favor, but he who looks for wrong-doing will have bad 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 those who are right with God will grow like a 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 be given the wind, and the foolish will serve those with a wise 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 those who are right with God is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

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

31 I f those who are right with God will be paid on earth, how much more the sinful and the wrong-doer!

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