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