11 The Lord hates traders who do not use true weights.
He is happy when they are honest and they use true weights.
2 If people are proud, they will soon become ashamed.
But if people are humble, they become wise.
3 Good people are honest, and that shows them the right way to live.
But wicked people are not honest, and that destroys them.
4 When it is time for God to punish you, money will not help you to escape.
But if you are righteous, that will save you from death.
5 An honest man who is righteous has a straight path to walk on.
But the sins of a wicked person will cause him to fall down.
6 When honest people are righteous, that will keep them safe.
But the bad things that wicked people want will catch them in a trap.
7 When a wicked person dies, he has no hope for anything good.
Everything that he hoped his strength would give him disappears!
8 Righteous people escape from trouble.
The trouble happens to wicked people instead.
9 People who do not respect God say things that destroy their friends.
But the knowledge that righteous people have keeps them safe.
10 When righteous people do well, everyone in the city is happy.
And people shout with joy when wicked people die.
11 A city becomes great when honest men bring God's blessing to it.
But when wicked people give bad advice, they will destroy the city.
12 When someone insults his neighbour, it shows that he is foolish.
But a wise person stays quiet.
13 If a person talks too much about other people, he will soon tell their secrets.
But someone that you can trust will not tell your secrets to other people.
14 A nation will fall if it has no wise leaders.
But it will do well if there are people who give good advice.
15 If you promise to pay a stranger's debt, you will be sorry.
You will be safe if you do not agree to do that.
16 A kind woman receives honour,
but cruel men only get riches for themselves.
17 A faithful person helps himself with good things,
but a cruel person brings trouble on himself.
18 A wicked person gets riches that soon disappear.
But someone who lives in a good way will surely receive good things.
19 If someone continues to do what is right, he will live.
But if someone loves to do evil things, he will die.
20 The Lord hates people who have wrong thoughts.
But he is pleased with people who live in an honest way.
21 Be sure about this: Evil people will receive the punishment that they deserve.
But people who are righteous will escape.
22 A beautiful woman who turns away from wisdom
is like a gold ring in a pig's nose.
23 Righteous people want good things to happen.
Wicked people only hope to cause anger.
24 Somebody may share his things with other people,
but he still becomes richer.
Somebody else may keep the things that he should give to others,
but he still becomes poor.
25 If you help other people with your money, you will do well.
If you give water to thirsty people, you will not be thirsty yourself.
26 If you refuse to sell food to hungry people, they will curse you.
But if you sell it to them, they will praise you.
27 If you try to do good things, people will respect you.
But if you want evil things to happen, they will happen to you!
28 If somebody trusts his riches to keep him safe,
he will fall like a leaf that falls from a tree.
But a righteous person will grow strong,
like a fresh green leaf.
29 Anyone who causes trouble for his family will not receive any good thing from them.
A foolish person like that will become the servant of a wise person.
30 The good things that a righteous person does bring life.
A person who saves people's lives shows that he is wise.
31 Righteous people receive what they deserve, here on this earth.
So you can be sure that cruel and wicked people will receive their punishment.
11 The Lord hates false scales, but he loves accurate weights.
2 Proud and boastful people will be shamed, but wisdom stays with those who are modest and humble.
3 Good people are guided by their honesty, but crooks who lie and cheat will ruin themselves.
4 Money is worthless when you face God’s punishment, but living right will save you from death.
5 Doing right makes life better for those who are good, but the wicked are destroyed by their own wicked ways.
6 Doing right sets honest people free, but people who can’t be trusted are trapped by their greed.
7 When the wicked die, all their hopes are lost; everything they thought they could do comes to nothing.
8 Good people escape from trouble, but the wicked come along and are trapped by it.
9 With their words hypocrites can destroy their neighbors. But with what they know, good people can escape.
10 When good people are successful, the whole city is happy, and they all shout with joy when evil people are destroyed.
11 Blessings from the honest people living in a city will make it great, but the things evil people say can destroy it.
12 Stupid people say bad things about their neighbors. [ a ] Wise people know to be quiet.
13 People who tell secrets about others cannot be trusted. Those who can be trusted keep quiet.
14 A nation without wise leaders will fall. Many good advisors make a nation safe.
15 You will be sorry if you promise to pay a stranger’s debt. Refuse to make such promises and you will be safe.
16 A kind and gentle woman gains respect, but violent men gain only wealth.
17 People who are kind will be rewarded for their kindness, but cruel people will be rewarded with trouble.
18 The work of evil people is all lies, but those who do right will receive a good reward. [ b ]
19 People who do what is right are on their way to life, but those who always want to do wrong are on their way to death.
20 The Lord hates those who love to do evil, but he is pleased with those who try to do right.
21 The truth is, evil people will be punished, and good people will be set free.
22 A beautiful woman without good sense is like a gold ring in a pig’s nose.
23 What good people want brings more good. What evil people want brings more trouble.
24 Some people give freely and gain more; others refuse to give and end up with less.
25 Give freely, and you will profit. Help others, and you will gain more for yourself.
26 People curse a greedy man who refuses to sell his grain, but they bless a man who sells his grain to feed others.
27 People are pleased with those who try to do good. Those who look for trouble will find it.
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall like dead leaves, but good people will blossom.
29 Those who cause trouble for their families will inherit nothing but the wind. A foolish person will end up as a servant to one who is wise.
30 What good people produce is like a life-giving tree. Those who are wise give new life to others. [ c ]
31 If good people are rewarded here on earth, then surely those who do evil will also get what they deserve.
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord : 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 transgressors 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 transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just 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 is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord : but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which 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 yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
11 A ( A ) false balance is an abomination to the Lord ,
But a ( B ) just weight is His delight.
2 When ( C ) pride comes, then comes dishonor;
But with the humble there is wisdom.
3 The ( D ) integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the ( E ) perversity of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 ( F ) Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath,
But ( G ) righteousness rescues from death.
5 The ( H ) righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But ( I ) the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will ( J ) be caught by their own greed.
7 When a wicked person dies, his ( K ) expectation will perish,
And the ( L ) hope of strong people perishes.
8 The righteous is rescued from trouble,
But the wicked [ a ] takes his place.
9 With his ( M ) mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the ( N ) righteous will be rescued.
10 When things ( O ) go well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked, it is torn down.
12 One who despises his neighbor lacks [ b ] sense,
But a person of understanding keeps silent.
13 One ( P ) who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But one who is [ c ] trustworthy ( Q ) conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no ( R ) guidance the people fall,
But in an abundance of counselors there is [ d ] victory.
15 One who is a ( S ) guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it,
But one who hates [ e ] being a guarantor is secure.
16 A ( T ) gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.
17 A ( U ) merciful person does [ f ] himself good ,
But the cruel person [ g ] does himself harm.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
But one who ( V ) sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 One who is steadfast in ( W ) righteousness attains life,
But ( X ) one who pursues evil attains his own death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord ,
But the ( Y ) blameless in their [ h ] walk are His ( Z ) delight.
21 [ i ] Be assured, the evil person will not go unpunished,
But the [ j ] descendants of the righteous will be rescued.
22 As a ( AA ) ring of gold in a pig’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the ( AB ) expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in poverty.
25 A [ k ] ( AC ) generous person will be [ l ] prosperous,
And one who ( AD ) gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.
26 One who withholds grain, the ( AE ) people will curse him,
But ( AF ) blessing will be on the head of him who ( AG ) sells it .
27 One who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But ( AH ) one who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28 One who ( AI ) trusts in his riches will fall,
But ( AJ ) the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 One who ( AK ) troubles his own house will ( AL ) inherit wind,
And ( AM ) the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is ( AN ) a tree of life,
And ( AO ) one who is wise [ m ] gains souls.
31 If ( AP ) the righteous will be repaid on the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. ( E )
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, ( I )
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. ( J )
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. ( K )
7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them; ( L )
all the promise of [ a ] their power comes to nothing. ( M )
8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead. ( N )
9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape. ( O )
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; ( P )
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. ( Q )
11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, ( R )
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. ( S )
12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, ( T )
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. ( U )
15 Whoever puts up security ( Z ) for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe. ( AA )
16 A kindhearted woman gains honor, ( AB )
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. ( AC )
20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, ( AF )
but he delights ( AG ) in those whose ways are blameless. ( AH )
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free. ( AI )
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it. ( AL )
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, ( AM )
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. ( AN )
29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise. ( AO )
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, ( AP )
and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 If the righteous receive their due ( AQ ) on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
