Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 The LORD detests dishonest scales, but delights in an accurate weight.
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A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but an accurate weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, so does shame, but wisdom brings humility.
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When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.
3 Integrity guides the virtuous, but dishonesty ruins the treacherous.
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The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 Riches don't help in the day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.
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Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight, but the wicked fall in their wickedness.
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The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 Those who do right are saved by their righteousness, but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.
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The righteousness of the upright saves them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.
7 When the wicked die, their hope perishes. Yes, any hope based on money perishes.
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When the wicked die, their hope perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.
8 The righteous are saved from distress, and the wicked take their place.
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The righteous are delivered from trouble, and the wicked get into it instead.
9 The godless destroy their neighbors by their words, but the righteous are saved by their knowledge.
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With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When the righteous succeed, a city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
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When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 A city is honored by the blessing of the virtuous; it is destroyed by the words of the wicked.
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By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Whoever despises their neighbor lacks sense; a sensible person keeps quiet.
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Whoever belittles another lacks sense, but an intelligent person remains silent.
13 A slanderer walks around revealing secrets, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
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A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.
14 Without guidance, a people will fall, but there is victory with many counselors.
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Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15 Guaranteeing the debt of a stranger brings big trouble, but the one who refuses to shake hands will be secure.
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To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble, but there is safety in refusing to do so.
16 A gracious woman gains honor; violent men gain only wealth.
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A gracious woman gets honor, but she who hates virtue is covered with shame. The timid become destitute, but the aggressive gain riches.
17 Kind persons benefit themselves, but cruel people harm themselves.
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Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm.
18 The wicked earn false wages, but those who sow righteousness receive a true reward.
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The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.
19 The righteous are headed toward life, but those who pursue evil, toward death.
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Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 The LORD detests a crooked heart, but he favors those whose path is innocent.
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Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21 The evil person will surely not go unpunished, but the children of the righteous will escape.
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Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will escape.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig's nose is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
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Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without good sense.
23 The desires of the righteous end up well, but the expectations of the wicked bring wrath.
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The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 Those who give generously receive more, but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy.
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Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
25 Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
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A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.
26 People curse those who hoard grain, but they bless those who sell it.
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The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.
27 Those who look for good find favor, but those who seek evil—it will come to them.
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Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it.
28 Those who trust in their wealth will wither, but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees.
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Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
29 Those who trouble their family will inherit the wind. The fool will be servant to the wise.
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Those who trouble their households will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the wise gather lives.
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The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence takes lives away.
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the wicked and sinners?
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If the righteous are repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.