New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
18 Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.
18
A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Godly people find life; evil people find death.
19
Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20 The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.
20
The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.
21
Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.
23
The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
24
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
25
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26 People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.
26
People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27 If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!
27
Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28 Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.
28
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise.
29
Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?
31
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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.