1 uA false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is his delight.
2 vWhen pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
3 wThe integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 xRiches do not profit yin the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
7 When the wicked dies, zhis hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealth1 perishes too.
8 aThe righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 bWhen it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is cexalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
12 dWhoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but ea man of understanding remains silent.
13 fWhoever goes about gslandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
14 hWhere there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
15 Whoever iputs up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
17 A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
18 jThe wicked earns deceptive wages,
but kone who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 lWhoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will mdie.
20 Those of ncrooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21 oBe assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 pThe desire of the righteous ends only in good,
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 qOne gives freely, ryet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
26 The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,2
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever strusts in his riches will fall,
but tthe righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever utroubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a vtree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
31 wIf the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who xhates reproof is stupid.
2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
but ya man of evil devices he condemns.
3 No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
4 zAn excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked alie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but bthe house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is despised.
9 cBetter to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 dWhoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12 Whoever is wicked ecovets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 fAn evil man is gensnared by the transgression of his lips,1
but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 hFrom the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
15 The way of a fool is iright in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16 jThe vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 kWhoever speaks2 the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise lbrings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who mdevise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21 nNo ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 oThe hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25 pAnxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,3
but the qway of the wicked leads them astray.
27 rWhoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.4
28 In the spath of righteousness is tlife,
and in its pathway there is no death.
1 A wise son hears his father’s uinstruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 vFrom the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
3 Whoever wguards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 xThe soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
ywhile the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
5 The righteous zhates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shame1 and disgrace.
6 aRighteousness bguards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
7 cOne dpretends to be rich,2 yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor,3 yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the elamp of the wicked will be put out.
10 By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
11 Wealth gained fhastily4 will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but ga desire fulfilled is a htree of life.
13 Whoever idespises the word5 brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment6 will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise jis a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
15 kGood sense wins favor,
but the way of the ltreacherous is their ruin.7
16 mEvery prudent man acts with knowledge,
nbut a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and odisgrace come to him who pignores instruction,
but whoever qheeds reproof is honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 rWhoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
sbut the tcompanion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster8 pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
ubut the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
24 vWhoever spares the rod hates his son,
wbut he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.9
25 xThe righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
