| New American Standard (NAS) | New International Version (NIV) |
| 1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight. | 1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. |
| 2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom. | 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. |
| 3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. | 3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. |
| 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. | 4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. |
| 5 The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. | 5 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. |
| 6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. | 6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. |
| 7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong men perishes. | 7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing. |
| 8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place. | 8 The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead. |
| 9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. | 9 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape. |
| 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting. | 10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. |
| 11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. | 11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. |
| 12 He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent. | 12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. |
| 13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. | 13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. |
| 14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. | 14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure. |
| 15 He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates being a guarantor is secure. | 15 He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe. |
| 16 A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches. | 16 A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. |
| 17 The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm. | 17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. |
| 18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. | 18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. |
| 19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death. | 19 The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death. |
| 20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their walk are His delight. | 20 The LORD detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. |
| 21 Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered. | 21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free. |
| 22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. | 22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. |
| 23 The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath. | 23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. |
| 24 There 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. | 24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. |
| 25 The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. | 25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. |
| 26 He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. | 26 People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell. |
| 27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him. | 27 He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it. |
| 28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf. | 28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. |
| 29 He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted. | 29 He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. |
| 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls. | 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. |
| 31 If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner ! | 31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved. (New American Standard Version - Holy Bible) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |