1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah;

But a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame;

But with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them;

But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath;

But righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way;

But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them;

But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.

7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish;

And the hope of iniquity perisheth.

8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble;

And the wicked cometh in his stead.

9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor;

But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.

10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth;

And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted;

But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom;

But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;

But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth;

But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it;

But he that hateth suretyship is secure.

16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor;

And violent men obtain riches.

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul;

But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages;

But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.

19 He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life;

And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.

20 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah;

But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

21 Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished;

But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,

So is a fair woman that is without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good;

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more;

And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat;

And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him;

But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

27 He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor;

But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall;

But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind;

And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

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

And he that is wise winneth souls.

31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth;

How much more the wicked and the sinner!

1 Balances of deceit [are] an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight [is] His delight.

2 Pride hath come, and shame cometh, And with the lowly [is] wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright leadeth them, And the perverseness of the treacherous destroyeth them.

4 Wealth profiteth not in a day of wrath, And righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall.

6 The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.

7 In the death of a wicked man, hope perisheth, And the expectation of the iniquitous hath been lost.

8 The righteous from distress is drawn out, And the wicked goeth in instead of him.

9 With the mouth a hypocrite corrupteth his friend, And by knowledge the righteous are drawn out.

10 In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked [is] singing.

11 By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.

12 Whoso is despising his neighbour lacketh heart, And a man of understanding keepeth silence.

13 A busybody is revealing secret counsel, And the faithful of spirit is covering the matter.

14 Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance [is] in a multitude of counsellors.

15 Evil [one] suffereth when he hath been surety [for] a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible [men] retain riches.

17 A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.

18 The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso is sowing righteousness -- a true reward.

19 Rightly [is] righteousness for life, And whoso is pursuing evil -- for his own death.

20 An abomination to Jehovah [are] the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way [are] His delight.

21 Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.

22 A ring of gold in the nose of a sow -- A fair woman and stubborn of behaviour.

23 The desire of the righteous [is] only good, The hope of the wicked [is] transgression.

24 There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

25 A liberal soul is made fat, And whoso is watering, he also is watered.

26 Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing [is] for the head of him who is selling.

27 Whoso is earnestly seeking good Seeketh a pleasing thing, And whoso is seeking evil -- it meeteth him.

28 Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

29 Whoso is troubling his own house inheriteth wind, And a servant [is] the fool to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life, And whoso is taking souls [is] wise.

31 Lo, the righteous in the earth is recompensed, Surely also the wicked and the sinner!