• Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

  • 1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.
  • 2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor; But with the humble there is wisdom.
  • 3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them.
  • 4 Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath, But righteousness rescues from death.
  • 5 The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
  • 6 The righteousness of the upright will rescue them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
  • 7 When a wicked person dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong people perishes.
  • 8 The righteous is rescued from trouble, But the wicked takes his place.
  • 9 With his mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be rescued.
  • 10 When things go well for the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
  • 11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked, it is torn down.
  • 12 One who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a person of understanding keeps silent.
  • 13 One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, But one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
  • 14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors there is victory.
  • 15 One who is a guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it, But one who hates being a guarantor is secure.
  • 16 A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches.
  • 17 A merciful person does himself good, But the cruel person does himself harm.
  • 18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages, But one who sows righteousness gets a true reward.
  • 19 One who is steadfast in righteousness attains life, But one who pursues evil attains his own death.
  • 20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.
  • 21 Be assured, the evil person will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be rescued.
  • 22 As a ring of gold in a pig’s snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
  • 23 The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
  • 24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in poverty.
  • 25 A generous person will be prosperous, And one who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.
  • 26 One who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
  • 27 One who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But one who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
  • 28 One who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
  • 29 One who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
  • 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And one who is wise gains souls.
  • 31 If the righteous will be repaid on the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner!