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

but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,

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.

19 Truly the righteous attain life,

but whoever pursues evil finds death.

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,

but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,

but those who are righteous will go free.

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.

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.

15 There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;

it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

16 A gracious woman gains respect,

but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Your kindness will reward you,

but your cruelty will destroy you.

18 Evil people get rich for the moment,

but the reward of the godly will last.

19 Godly people find life;

evil people find death.

20 The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,

but he delights in those with integrity.

21 Evil people will surely be punished,

but the children of the godly will go free.

22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion

is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23 The godly can look forward to a reward,

while the wicked can expect only judgment.

15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer,

But one who hates being surety is secure.

16 A gracious woman retains honor,

But ruthless men retain riches.

17 The merciful man does good for his own soul,

But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

18 The wicked man does deceptive work,

But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

19 As righteousness leads to life,

So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,

But the blameless in their ways are His delight.

21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;

But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

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

So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

15 Whoever guarantees to pay somebody else’s loan will suffer.

It is safer to avoid such promises.

16 A kind woman gets respect,

but cruel men get only wealth.

17 Kind people do themselves a favor,

but cruel people bring trouble on themselves.

18 An evil person really earns nothing,

but a good person will surely be rewarded.

19 Those who are truly good will live,

but those who chase after evil will die.

20 The Lord hates those with evil hearts

but is pleased with those who are innocent.

21 Evil people will certainly be punished,

but those who do right will be set free.

22 A beautiful woman without good sense

is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23 Those who do right only wish for good,

but the wicked can expect to be defeated by God’s anger.

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.

15 It goeth ill with him that is surety for another; but he that hateth suretyship is secure.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour; and the violent retain riches.

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but the cruel troubleth his own flesh.

18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work; but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.

19 As righteousness tendeth to life, so he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.

20 The perverse in heart are abomination to Jehovah; but they that are perfect in their way are his delight.

21 Hand for hand! an evil man shall not be held innocent; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 A fair woman who is without discretion, is as a gold ring in a swine’s snout.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good; the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

15 Whoever guarantees a stranger’s loan will get into trouble, 

but whoever hates the closing of a deal remains secure. 

16 A gracious woman wins respect, 

but ruthless men gain riches. 

17 A merciful person helps himself, 

but a cruel person hurts himself. 

18 A wicked person earns dishonest wages, 

but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay. 

19 As righteousness leads to life, 

so whoever pursues evil finds his own death. 

20 Devious people are disgusting to the Lord, 

but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent. 

21 Certainly, an evil person will not go unpunished, 

but the descendants of righteous people will escape. 

22 ⸤Like⸥ a gold ring in a pig’s snout, 

⸤so⸥ is a beautiful woman who lacks good taste. 

23 The desire of righteous people ends only in good, 

but the hope of wicked people ends only in fury. 

15 If someone puts up security for a stranger,

he will suffer for it,

but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

16 A gracious woman gains honor,

but violent men gain only riches.

17 A kind man benefits himself,

but a cruel man brings disaster on himself.

18 The wicked man earns an empty wage,

but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,

but pursuing evil leads to death.

20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,

but those with blameless conduct are His delight.

21 Be assured that the wicked

will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense

is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23 The desire of the righteous turns out well,

but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.

15 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,

but there is safety in refusing to do so.

16 A gracious woman gets honor,

but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.

The timid become destitute,

but the aggressive gain riches.

17 Those who are kind reward themselves,

but the cruel do themselves harm.

18 The wicked earn no real gain,

but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.

19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,

but whoever pursues evil will die.

20 Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,

but those of blameless ways are his delight.

21 Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,

but those who are righteous will escape.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout

is a beautiful woman without good sense.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good;

the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

15 He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger,

but he who refuses a pledge is safe.

16 A woman of grace receives honor,

but the ruthless gets wealth.

17 A person of kindness rewards himself,

but a cruel person harms his own flesh.

18 The wicked earns deceptive gain,

but he who sows righteousness, a true reward.

19 He who is steadfast in righteousness is to life

as he who pursues evil is to death.

20 An abomination of Yahweh are the crooked of heart,

but his delight are those with blameless ways.

21 Rest assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22 A ring of gold in the snout of a pig

is a woman who is beautiful but without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,

but the expectation of the wicked, wrath.

15 Anyone who puts up money for what someone else owes will certainly suffer.

But a person who doesn’t agree to pay up for someone else is safe.

16 A woman who has a kind heart gains respect.

But men who are not kind gain only wealth.

17 A kind man benefits himself.

But a mean person brings trouble on himself.

18 Those who do what is wrong really earn nothing.

But those who plant what is right will certainly be rewarded.

19 Right living leads to life.

But anyone who runs after evil will die.

20 The Lord hates those whose hearts are twisted.

But he is pleased with those who live without blame.

21 You can be sure that sinners will be punished.

And you can also be sure that godly people will go free.

22 A beautiful woman who has no sense

is like a gold ring in a pig’s nose.

23 What godly people long for ends only in what is good.

But what sinners hope for ends only in God’s anger.

15 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 attains honor,

And ruthless men attain riches.

17 The merciful man does himself good,

But the cruel man does himself harm.

18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,

But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.

19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life,

And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.

20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,

But the blameless in their walk are His delight.

21 Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,

But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

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

So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.