1 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are 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 comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes 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 the treacherous 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 don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers 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 blameless will 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 the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.

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 dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.

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

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

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

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

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

10 W hen it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. 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 O ne who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

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

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

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 there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.

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

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

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

16 A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain 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 does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

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

18 W icked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps 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 H e who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets 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 hose who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless 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 M ost certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

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

22 L ike a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks 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. 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 one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains 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. He who waters shall be watered also himself.

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

26 P eople curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

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

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

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

28 H e who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

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 who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish 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. He who is wise wins souls.

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 repaid in the earth; how 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 ?