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,¹

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!