The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New International Version NIV
1 False scales are an abomination to ADONAI, but accurate weights please him.
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The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
2 First comes pride, then disgrace; but with the humble is wisdom.
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When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the duplicity of the treacherous destroys them.
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The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
4 On the day of wrath, wealth doesn't help; but righteousness rescues from death.
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Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the innocent levels their way, but wickedness of the wicked makes them fall.
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The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own intrigues.
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The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; what he hopes for from evil comes to nothing.
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Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked comes to take his place.
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The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
9 With his mouth the hypocrite can ruin his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
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With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is joy.
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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 raised up; but the words of the wicked tear it down.
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Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
12 He who belittles another lacks good sense, whereas a person of discernment stays silent.
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Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
13 A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
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A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
14 Without clever tactics an army is defeated, and victory comes from much planning.
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For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
15 He who guarantees a loan for a stranger will suffer, but refusing to underwrite is safe.
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Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
16 A gracious woman obtains honor; aggressive men obtain wealth.
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A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 A man who is kind does himself good, but the cruel does harm to himself.
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Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18 The profits of the wicked are illusory; but those who sow righteousness gain a true reward.
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A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuer of evil goes to his own death.
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Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20 The crooked-hearted are an abomination to ADONAI, but those sincere in their ways are his delight.
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The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Depend on it: the evil will not go unpunished; but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
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Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
22 Like a gold ring in the snout of a pig is a beautiful woman who lacks good sense.
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Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The righteous desire only good, but what the wicked hope for brings wrath.
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The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 Some give freely and still get richer, while others are stingy but grow still poorer.
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One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 The person who blesses others will prosper; he who satisfies others will be satisfied himself.
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A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain; but if he sells it, blessings will be on his head.
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People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27 He who strives for good obtains favor, but he who searches for evil - it comes to him!
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Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like sprouting leaves.
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Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29 Those who trouble their families inherit the wind, and the fool becomes slave to the wise.
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Whoever brings ruin on their 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.
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The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 If the righteous are paid what they deserve here on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
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If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.