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 perishes,

and the expectation of the godless comes to naught.

8The righteous is delivered from trouble,

and the wicked gets 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 it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12He who belittles his neighbour lacks sense,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

13He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,

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

14Where there is no guidance, a people falls;

but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety.

15He who gives surety for a stranger will smart for it,

but he who hates suretyship 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.

18A wicked man earns deceptive wages,

but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

19He who is steadfast in righteousness will live,

but he who pursues evil will die.

20Men of perverse mind are an abomination to the LORD,

but those of blameless ways are his delight.

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

but those who are righteous will be delivered.

22Like a gold ring in a swine'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 man gives freely, yet grows all the richer;

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

25A liberal man 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.

27He who diligently seeks good seeks favour,

but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28He who trusts in his riches will wither,11.28 Cn: Heb fall

but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

29He who troubles his household will inherit wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise.

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

but lawlessness11.30 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb a wise man takes away lives.

3111.31 (Gk): 1 Pet 4.18.If the righteous is requited on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!