New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 The Lord hates dishonest scales, but he is pleased with honest weights.
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The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
2 Pride leads only to shame; it is wise to be humble.
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When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Good people will be guided by honesty; dishonesty will destroy those who are not trustworthy.
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The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
4 Riches will not help when it's time to die, but right living will save you from death.
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Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The goodness of the innocent makes life easier, but the wicked will be destroyed by their wickedness.
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The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6 Doing right brings freedom to honest people, but those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.
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The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
7 When the wicked die, hope dies with them; their hope in riches will come to nothing.
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Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
8 The good person is saved from trouble; it comes to the wicked instead.
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The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
9 With words an evil person can destroy a neighbor, but a good person will escape by being smart.
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With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10 When good people succeed, the city is happy. When evil people die, there are shouts of joy.
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When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Good people bless and build up their city, but the wicked can destroy it with their words.
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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 People without good sense find fault with their neighbors, but those with understanding keep quiet.
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Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
13 Gossips can't keep secrets, but a trustworthy person can.
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A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
14 Without leadership a nation falls, but lots of good advice will save it.
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For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
15 Whoever guarantees to pay somebody else's loan will suffer. It is safer to avoid such promises.
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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 kind woman gets respect, but cruel men get only wealth.
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A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 Kind people do themselves a favor, but cruel people bring trouble on themselves.
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Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18 An evil person really earns nothing, but a good person will surely be rewarded.
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A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Those who are truly good will live, but those who chase after evil will die.
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Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20 The Lord hates those with evil hearts but is pleased with those who are innocent.
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The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Evil people will certainly be punished, but those who do right will be set free.
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Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
22 A beautiful woman without good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
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Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 Those who do right only wish for good, but the wicked can expect to be defeated by God's anger.
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The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 Some people give much but get back even more. Others don't give what they should and end up poor.
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One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 Whoever gives to others will get richer; those who help others will themselves be helped.
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A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26 People curse those who keep all the grain, but they bless the one who is willing to sell it.
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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 Whoever looks for good will find kindness, but whoever looks for evil will find trouble.
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Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28 Those who trust in riches will be ruined, but a good person will be healthy like a green leaf.
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Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29 Whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with nothing but the wind. A fool will be a servant 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 A good person gives life to others; the wise person teaches others how to live.
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The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 Good people will be rewarded on earth, and the wicked and the sinners will be punished.
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If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.