1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,

but a just weight is his delight.

2When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with the humble is wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,

but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright delivers them,

but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

7When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,

and the expectation of wealth11:7 Or of his strength, or of iniquity perishes too.

8The righteous is delivered from trouble,

and the wicked walks into it instead.

9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbour,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

12Whoever belittles his neighbour lacks sense,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,

but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

14Where there is no guidance, a people falls,

but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety.

15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,

but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

16A gracious woman gets honour,

and violent men get riches.

17A man who is kind benefits himself,

but a cruel man hurts himself.

18The wicked earns deceptive wages,

but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,

but he who pursues evil will die.

20Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,

but those of blameless ways are his delight.

21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

22Like a gold ring in a pig's snout

is a beautiful woman without discretion.

23The desire of the righteous ends only in good,

the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

24One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;

another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,

and one who waters will himself be watered.

26The people curse him who holds back grain,

but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favour,11:27 Or acceptance

but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

29Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

and whoever captures souls is wise.

31If the righteous is repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!