Dishonest Scales
(Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Ezekiel 45:10–12)

1Scales of deceit are an abomination to YHWH,

and a whole stone is His delight.

2Pride has come, and shame also comes,

and with the humble is wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright ones guides them,

and the perversity of the treacherous ones destroys them.

Wealth will not profit in the day of wrath,

and righteousness delivers from death.

5The righteousness of a blameless one makes his way straight,

and in his wickedness a wicked one will fall.

6The righteousness of the upright ones will deliver them,

and by their own desires those acting treacherously are captured.

7With the death of a wicked man, expectation perishes,

and the hope of his vigor perishes.

8A righteous one is drawn out from distress,

and it comes to the wicked in his place.

9With the mouth a godless one destroys his neighbor,

and with knowledge righteous ones will be delivered.

10In the good of the righteous ones a city rejoices,

and in the destruction of wicked ones is a shout of joy.

11By the blessing of the upright a city is lifted high,

and by the mouth of the wicked ones it is torn down.

12The one despising his neighbor is lacking of heart,

and a man of understanding keeps quiet.

13One going about slandering is revealing secret counsel,

and the one faithful of spirit conceals the matter.

14Without counsels, a people falls,

and salvation is in many giving counsel.

15One will surely suffer evil if he pledges for for a stranger,

and one who hates striking hands remains secure.

16A woman of grace grasps honor,

and the ruthless ones grasp riches.

17A man of kindness deals well with his soul,

and a cruel one troubles his flesh.

18A wicked one makes a reward of deception,

and the one sowing righteousness has a wage of truth.

19Rightly is righteousness for life,

and the one pursuing evil is unto his own death.

20The crooked of heart are an abomination to YHWH,

and those blameless in their way are His delight.

21Hand to hand, a wicked one is not acquitted,

and the seed of the righteous will escape punishment.

22A ring of gold in the nose of a pig,

is a beautiful woman lacking discretion.

23The desire of the righteous is only good,

and the hope of the wicked is wrath.

24There is one dispersing, and increasing more,

and one withholding from uprightness, only for lack.

25A soul of blessing is made fat,

and the one who drenches, he also will sprout.

26The one withholding grain, the people will curse him,

and blessing is on the head of the one selling.

27The one earnestly seeking good seeks favor,

and the one seeking evil, it will come to him.

28The one trusting in his riches, he will fall,

and the righteous ones will sprout like the leaf.

29The one troubling his own house will inherit the wind,

and the fool is servant to the wise of heart.

30The fruit of a righteous one is a tree of life,

and the one taking souls is wise.

31Behold, a righteous one will be repaid in the land,

surely also the ungodly and the sinner!†