New International Version | New Living Translation |
1The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. | 1The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. |
2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. | 2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. |
3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. | 3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. |
4Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. | 4Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. |
5The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. | 5The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. |
6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. | 6The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them. |
7Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing. | 7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. |
8The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. | 8The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. |
9With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. | 9With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. |
10When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. | 10The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die. |
11Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. | 11Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. |
12Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. | 12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet. |
13A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. | 13A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. |
14For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. | 14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers. |
15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe. | 15There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt. |
16A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. | 16A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. |
17Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves. | 17Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you. |
18A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. | 18Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. |
19Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death. | 19Godly people find life; evil people find death. |
20The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. | 20The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity. |
21Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free. | 21Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free. |
22Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. | 22A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. |
23The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. | 23The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment. |
24One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. | 24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. |
25A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. | 25The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. |
26People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God's blessing on the one who is willing to sell. | 26People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need. |
27Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. | 27If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you! |
28Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. | 28Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. |
29Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. | 29Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise. |
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. | 30The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends. |
31If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! | 31If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners? |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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