New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.

1Dishonest scales are detestable to the LORD, but an accurate weight is his delight.

2When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

2When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

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

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

4Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

5The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

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

7When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.

7When the wicked person dies, his expectation comes to nothing, and hope placed in wealth vanishes.

8The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.

8The righteous one is rescued from trouble; in his place, the wicked one goes in.

9The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

9With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

10When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices; when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

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

11A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.

12He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.

12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a person with understanding keeps silent.

13A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

13A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

14Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

14Without guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.

15He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, But one who hates being surety is secure.

15If someone puts up security for a stranger, he will suffer for it, but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

16A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.

16A gracious woman gains honor, but violent people gain only riches.

17The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.

18The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

18The wicked person earns an empty wage, but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.

19As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but pursuing evil leads to death.

20Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.

20Those with twisted minds are detestable to the LORD, but those with blameless conduct are his delight.

21Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

21Be assured that a wicked person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

22A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

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

23The desire of the righteous turns out well, but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.

24There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

24One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

25The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

25A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.

26The people will curse him who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

26People will curse anyone who hoards grain, but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.

27He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

27The one who searches for what is good seeks favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.

28He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

28Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

29The one who brings ruin on his household will inherit the wind, and a fool will be a slave to someone whose heart is wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and a wise person captivates people.

31If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

31If the righteous will be repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and sinful.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.