Verses
1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but accurate weights are his delight.
2When pride comes, then comes shame,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright shall guide them,
but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way,
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them,
but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7When a wicked man dies, hope perishes,
and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8A righteous person is delivered out of trouble,
and the wicked takes his place.
9With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbour,
but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.
When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12One who despises his neighbour is void of wisdom,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,
but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,
but in the multitude of counsellors there is victory.
15He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it,
but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16A gracious woman obtains honour,
but violent men obtain riches.
17The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18Wicked people earn deceitful wages,
but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19He who is truly righteous gets life.
He who pursues evil gets death.
20Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout,
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good.
The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24There is one who scatters, and increases yet more.
There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25The liberal soul shall be made fat.
He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26People curse someone who withholds grain,
but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27He who diligently seeks good seeks favour,
but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind.
The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.
He who is wise wins souls.
31Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!