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

A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are 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 humility comes 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 shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall 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 don’t 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, but the wicked shall 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 shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.

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

When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.

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

A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.

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

With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.

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. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.

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.

One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, 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.

One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

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 wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.

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 collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

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

A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.

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

The merciful man does good to 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.

Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps 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.

He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.

20 T he Lord hates those who are sinful in heart, but those who walk without blame are His joy.

Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless 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.

Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring 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.

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful 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. 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, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.

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

The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.

26 T he people curse him who keeps grain for himself, but good comes to him who sells it.

People curse someone 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 diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.

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 shall flourish as the green leaf.

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 shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall 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. He who is wise wins souls.

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

Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!