11 aA false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

bbut a just weight is his delight.

2  cWhen pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with dthe humble is wisdom.

3  eThe integrity of the upright guides them,

fbut the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

4  gRiches do not profit in the day of wrath,

hbut righteousness delivers from death.

5  The righteousness of the blameless ikeeps his way straight,

but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

6  hThe righteousness of the upright delivers them,

but the treacherous jare taken captive by their lust.

7  When the wicked dies, his khope will perish,

and lthe expectation of wealth1 perishes too.

8  mThe righteous is delivered from trouble,

and the wicked walks into it instead.

9  With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

10  nWhen it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

11  By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but oby the mouth of the wicked pit is overthrown.

12  Whoever qbelittles his neighbor lacks sense,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

13  Whoever rgoes about slandering reveals secrets,

but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

14  Where there is sno guidance, a people falls,

sbut in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

15  tWhoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,

but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

16  uA gracious woman gets honor,

and vviolent men get riches.

17  wA man who is kind benefits himself,

but a cruel man hurts himself.

18  The wicked earns deceptive wages,

but one who xsows righteousness gets a sure reward.

19  Whoever is steadfast in righteousness ywill live,

but zhe who pursues evil will die.

20  Those of acrooked heart are ban abomination to the Lord,

but those of cblameless ways are dhis delight.

21  eBe assured, fan evil person will not go unpunished,

but gthe offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

22  Like ha gold ring in a pig’s snout

is a beautiful woman without discretion.

23  The desire of the righteous ends only in good,

ithe expectation of the wicked in wrath.

24  jOne gives kfreely, yet grows all the richer;

another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25  lWhoever brings blessing mwill be enriched,

and none who waters will himself be watered.

26  oThe people curse him who holds back grain,

but pa blessing is on the head of him who qsells it.

27  Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,2

but evil comes to rhim who searches for it.

28  Whoever strusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will tflourish like a green leaf.

29  Whoever utroubles his own household will vinherit the wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30  The fruit of the righteous is wa tree of life,

and whoever xcaptures souls is wise.

31  If ythe righteous is repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!