11 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord, u

but an accurate weight is His delight. v

2 When pride comes, disgrace follows,

but with humility comes wisdom. w

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, x

but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them. y

4 Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,

but righteousness rescues from death. z

5 The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,

but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright rescues them,

but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires. a

7 When the wicked man dies,

his expectation comes to nothing,

and hope placed in wealth b c vanishes. d

8 The righteous one is rescued from trouble;

in his place, the wicked one goes in. e

9 With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,

but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10 When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices, f

and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

11 A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, g

but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked. h

12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,

but a man with understanding keeps silent. i

13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret,

but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence. j

14 Without guidance, people fall,

but with many counselors there is deliverance. k

15 If someone puts up security for a stranger,

he will suffer for it, l

but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

16 A gracious woman gains honor,

but violent m men gain only riches.

17 A kind man benefits himself, n

but a cruel man brings disaster on himself. o

18 The wicked man earns an empty wage,

but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward. p

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, q

but pursuing evil leads to death. r

20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,

but those with blameless conduct are His delight. s

21 Be assured t that the wicked

will not go unpunished, u

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. v

23 The desire of the righteous turns out well, w

but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath. x

24 One person gives freely,

yet gains more; y

another withholds what is right,

only to become poor. z

25 A generous person will be enriched, a

and the one who gives a drink of water

will receive water. b

26 People will curse c anyone who hoards grain,

but a blessing will come to the one who sells it. d

27 The one who searches for what is good e finds favor,

but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him. f

28 Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, g

but the righteous will flourish like foliage. h

29 The one who brings ruin on his household i

will inherit the wind, j

and a fool will be a slave

to someone whose heart is wise.

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

but violence l takes lives.

31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and sinful. m