Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 The Lord hates people who use dishonest scales. He is happy with honest weights.
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A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, But accurate weights are his delight.
2 People who are proud will soon be disgraced. It is wiser to be modest.
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When pride comes, then comes shame, But with humility comes wisdom.
3 If you are good, you are guided by honesty. People who can't be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty.
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The integrity of the upright shall guide them, But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Riches will do you no good on the day you face death, but honesty can save your life.
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Riches don't profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
5 Honesty makes a good person's life easier, but the wicked will cause their own downfall.
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The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 Righteousness rescues those who are honest, but those who can't be trusted are trapped by their own greed.
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The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, But the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 When the wicked die, their hope dies with them. Confidence placed in riches comes to nothing.
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When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, And expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 The righteous are protected from trouble; it comes to the wicked instead.
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The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked takes his place.
9 You can be ruined by the talk of godless people, but the wisdom of the righteous can save you.
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With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 A city is happy when honest people have good fortune, and there are joyful shouts when the wicked die.
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When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 A city becomes great when the righteous give it their blessing; but a city is brought to ruin by the words of the wicked.
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By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 It is foolish to speak scornfully of others. If you are smart, you will keep quiet.
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One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 No one who gossips can be trusted with a secret, but you can put confidence in someone who is trustworthy.
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One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, But one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 A nation will fall if it has no guidance. Many advisers mean security.
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Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, But in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 If you promise to pay a stranger's debt, you will regret it. You are better off if you don't get involved.
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He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, But he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 A gracious woman is respected, but a woman without virtue is a disgrace. Lazy people will never have money, but aggressive people will get rich.
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A gracious woman obtains honor, But violent men obtain riches.
17 You do yourself a favor when you are kind. If you are cruel, you only hurt yourself.
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The merciful man does good to his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Wicked people do not really gain anything, but if you do what is right, you are certain to be rewarded.
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The wicked earns deceitful wages, But he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Anyone who is determined to do right will live, but anyone who insists on doing wrong will die.
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He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 The Lord hates evil-minded people, but loves those who do right.
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Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, But those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 You can be sure that evil people will be punished, but the righteous will escape.
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Most assuredly, the evil man will not be unpunished, But the seed of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Beauty in a woman without good judgment 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 lacks discretion.
23 What good people want always results in good; when the wicked get what they want, everyone is angry.
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The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer.
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There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.
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The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 People curse someone who hoards grain, waiting for a higher price, but they praise the one who puts it up for sale.
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He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 If your goals are good, you will be respected, but if you are looking for trouble, that is what you will get.
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He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 Those who depend on their wealth will fall like the leaves of autumn, but the righteous will prosper like the leaves of summer.
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He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 Those who bring trouble on their families will have nothing at the end. Foolish people will always be servants to the wise.
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He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 Righteousness gives life, but violence takes it away.
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The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31 Those who are good are rewarded here on earth, so you can be sure that wicked and sinful people will be punished.
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Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth; How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.