1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight.

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.

2 W hen pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom.

When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.

3 T he integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

4 R iches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.

5 T he righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

6 T he righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

7 W hen a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth.

When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong men perishes.

8 T he righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead.

The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place.

9 W ith his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.

With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

10 W hen it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.

11 B y the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

12 H e that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent.

13 H e that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.

14 W here no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

15 H e that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure.

He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.

16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches.

A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches.

17 T he merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.

18 T he wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.

The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.

19 H e that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life; And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.

He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.

20 T hey that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.

21 T hough hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

22 A s a ring of gold in a swine's snout, So is a fair woman that is without discretion.

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

23 T he desire of the righteous is only good; But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 T here is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

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 want.

25 T he liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.

26 H e that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27 H e that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

28 H e that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

29 H e that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.

30 T he fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.

31 B ehold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: How much more the wicked and the sinner!

If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner!