New King James Version

New Living Translation

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

1The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.

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

2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

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

3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

4Riches do not profit 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 will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

5The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

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

6The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

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

7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.

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

8The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.

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

9With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

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

10The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die.

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

11Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

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

12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.

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

13A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

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

14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

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

15There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

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

16A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

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

17Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.

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

18Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.

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

19Godly people find life; evil people find death.

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

20The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.

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

21Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.

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

22A beautiful woman who lacks discretion 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 godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.

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

24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.

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

25The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

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

26People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

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

27If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!

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

28Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

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

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 he who wins souls is wise.

30The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.

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

31If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?

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

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.