New International Version NIV
Common English Bible CEB
1 The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
1
The LORD detests dishonest scales, but delights in an accurate weight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
2
When pride comes, so does shame, but wisdom brings humility.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
3
Integrity guides the virtuous, but dishonesty ruins the treacherous.
4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
4
Riches don't help in the day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
5
The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight, but the wicked fall in their wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
6
Those who do right are saved by their righteousness, but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.
7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
7
When the wicked die, their hope perishes. Yes, any hope based on money perishes.
8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
8
The righteous are saved from distress, and the wicked take their place.
9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.
9
The godless destroy their neighbors by their words, but the righteous are saved by their knowledge.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
10
When the righteous succeed, a city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
11
A city is honored by the blessing of the virtuous; it is destroyed by the words of the wicked.
12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
12
Whoever despises their neighbor lacks sense; a sensible person keeps quiet.
13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
13
A slanderer walks around revealing secrets, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
14
Without guidance, a people will fall, but there is victory with many counselors.
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
15
Guaranteeing the debt of a stranger brings big trouble, but the one who refuses to shake hands will be secure.
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
16
A gracious woman gains honor; violent men gain only wealth.
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
17
Kind persons benefit themselves, but cruel people harm themselves.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
18
The wicked earn false wages, but those who sow righteousness receive a true reward.
19 Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
19
The righteous are headed toward life, but those who pursue evil, toward death.
20 The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
20
The LORD detests a crooked heart, but he favors those whose path is innocent.
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
21
The evil person will surely not go unpunished, but the children of the righteous will escape.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
22
Like a gold ring in a pig's nose is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
23
The desires of the righteous end up well, but the expectations of the wicked bring wrath.
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
24
Those who give generously receive more, but those who are stingy with what is appropriate will grow needy.
25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
25
Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
26 People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
26
People curse those who hoard grain, but they bless those who sell it.
27 Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
27
Those who look for good find favor, but those who seek evil—it will come to them.
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
28
Those who trust in their wealth will wither, but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees.
29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
29
Those who trouble their family will inherit the wind. The fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the wise gather lives.
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
31
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the wicked and sinners?
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible