International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1The LORD hates false scales, but he delights in accurate weights.

1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.

2When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it, but humility is present with wisdom.

2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

3The integrity of the righteous guides them, but the hypocrisy of the treacherous destroys them.

3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

4Wealth won't help in the time of judgment, but righteousness will deliver from death.

4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

5The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path, but the wicked fall by their wickedness.

5The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are trapped by their evil desires.

6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

7When a wicked person dies, his hope vanishes; and what he expected from his scheming comes to nothing.

7When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

8The righteous person is delivered from trouble; it comes upon the wicked instead.

8The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.

9By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

10The city rejoices when the righteous prosper, and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.

10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

11Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up, but what the wicked say tears it down.

11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but the discerning man controls his comments.

12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

13Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets, but the trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

14A nation falls through a lack of guidance, but victory comes through the counsel of many.

14Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

15Securing a loan for a stranger will bring suffering, but by refusing to do so, one remains safe.

15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

16A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men attain wealth.

16A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.

17A gracious man benefits himself, but the cruel person damages himself.

17A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

18Evil people earn deceptive wages, but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded.

18The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but whoever pursues evil will die.

19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.

20Devious minds are abhorrent to the LORD, but those whose ways are innocent are his delight.

20Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

21Be sure of this: the wicked will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will go free.

21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

22Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

23The desire of the righteous is to seek good, but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

23The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

24Those who give freely gain even more; others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.

24One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25A generous person will prosper, and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.

25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

26People will curse whoever withholds grain, but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

26The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

27The person seeking good will find favor, but anyone who searches for evil—it will find him!

27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28The person who trusts in his wealth will fall, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

29Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

29Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who wins people is wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

31If the righteous receive what they are due here on earth, how much more will the wicked and the sinner.

31If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.