New International Version NIV
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
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Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
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When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
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The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
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Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
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The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
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The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
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At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction.
8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
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The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.
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With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
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When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
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By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
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He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
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He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
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When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
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He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
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A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth.
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
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The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
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The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
19 Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
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So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
20 The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
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The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
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Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
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Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
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The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
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A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need.
25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
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He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
26 People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
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He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.
27 Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
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He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
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He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.
29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
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The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
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The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
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If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.