1
1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
2but a just weight is his delight.
2
3When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with
4the humble is wisdom.
3
5The integrity of the upright guides them,
6but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4
7Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
8but righteousness delivers from death.
5
The righteousness of the blameless
9keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6
10The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous
11are taken captive by their lust.
7
When the wicked dies, his
12hope will perish, and
13the expectation of wealth perishes too.
8
14The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.
9
With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10
15When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but
16by the mouth of the wicked
17it is overthrown.
12
Whoever
18belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.
13
Whoever
19goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14
Where there is
20no guidance, a people falls,
21but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15
22Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16
23A gracious woman gets honor, and
24violent men get riches.
17
25A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
18
The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who
26sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19
Whoever is steadfast in righteousness
27will live, but
28he who pursues evil will die.
20
Those of
29crooked heart are
30an abomination to the LORD, but those of
31blameless ways are
32his delight.
21
33Be assured,
34an evil person will not go unpunished, but
35the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22
Like
36a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23
The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
37the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24
38One gives
39freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25
40Whoever brings blessing
41will be enriched, and
42one who waters will himself be watered.
26
43The people curse him who holds back grain, but
44a blessing is on the head of him who
45sells it.
27
Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to
46him who searches for it.
28
Whoever
47trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will
48flourish like a green leaf.
29
Whoever
49troubles his own household will
50inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30
The fruit of the righteous is
51a tree of life, and whoever
52captures souls is wise.
31
If
53the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!