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11 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,(A)
but an accurate weight is his delight.(B)

When arrogance comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.(C)

The integrity of the upright guides them,(D)
but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.(E)

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

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

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

When the wicked person dies,
his expectation comes to nothing,
and hope placed in wealth[a][b] vanishes.(H)

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

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

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

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

12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbour lacks sense,
but a person with understanding keeps silent.(N)

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

14 Without guidance, a people will fall,
but with many counsellors there is deliverance.(P)

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

16 A gracious woman gains honour,
but violent[c] people gain only riches.

17 A kind man benefits himself,(R)
but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.(S)

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

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,(U)
but pursuing evil leads to death.(V)

20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,
but those with blameless conduct are his delight.(W)

21 Be assured[d] that a wicked person
will not go unpunished,(X)
but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22 A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.(Y)

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

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

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

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

27 The one who searches for what is good(AH) seeks favour,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.(AI)

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

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

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AN)
but a cunning person takes lives.(AO)

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

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but one who hates correction is stupid.(AQ)

One who is good obtains favour from the Lord,(AR)
but he condemns a person who schemes.(AS)

No one can be made secure by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous is immovable.(AT)

A wife of noble character[e] is her husband’s crown,(AU)
but a wife who causes shame
is like rottenness in his bones.(AV)

The thoughts of the righteous are just,
but guidance from the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,(AW)
but the speech of the upright rescues them.(AX)

The wicked are overthrown and perish,(AY)
but the house of the righteous will stand.(AZ)

A man is praised for his insight,
but a twisted mind is despised.

Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant,
than to act important but have no food.(BA)

10 The righteous cares about his animal’s health,(BB)
but even the merciful acts of the wicked are cruel.

11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food,(BC)
but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.(BD)

12 The wicked desire what evil people have caught,[f]
but the root of the righteous is productive.

13 By rebellious speech an evil person is trapped,(BE)
but a righteous person escapes from trouble.(BF)

14 A person will be satisfied with good
by the fruit of his mouth,(BG)
and the work of a person’s hands will reward him.(BH)

15 A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,(BI)
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

16 A fool’s displeasure is known at once,
but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.(BJ)

17 Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right,
but a false witness speaks deceit.(BK)

18 There is one who speaks rashly,
like a piercing sword;(BL)
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(BM)

19 Truthful lips endure for ever,
but a lying tongue, only a moment.(BN)

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.(BO)

21 No disaster overcomes the righteous,(BP)
but the wicked are full of misery.

22 Lying lips are detestable to the Lord,(BQ)
but faithful people are his delight.(BR)

23 A shrewd person conceals knowledge,
but a foolish heart publicises stupidity.(BS)

24 The diligent hand will rule,
but laziness will lead to forced labour.(BT)

25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
but a good word cheers it up.(BU)

26 A righteous person is careful in dealing with his neighbour,[g]
but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.(BV)

27 A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game,(BW)
but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious.(BX)

28 There is life in the path of righteousness,
and in its path there is no death.[h](BY)

13 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline,
but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,(BZ)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(CA)

The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(CB)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(CC)

The slacker craves, yet has nothing,
but the diligent is fully satisfied.(CD)

The righteous hate lying,
but the wicked bring disgust and shame.

Righteousness guards people of integrity,[i]
but wickedness undermines the sinner.(CE)

One person pretends to be rich but has nothing;(CF)
another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.(CG)

Riches are a ransom for a person’s life,(CH)
but a poor person hears no threat.

The light of the righteous shines brightly,(CI)
but the lamp of the wicked is put out.(CJ)

10 Arrogance leads to nothing but strife,(CK)
but wisdom is gained by those who take advice.

11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(CL)
but whoever earns it through labour[j] will multiply it.(CM)

12 Hope delayed makes the heart sick,
but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.(CN)

13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,(CO)
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.(CP)

14 A wise person’s instruction is a fountain of life,(CQ)
turning people away from the snares of death.(CR)

15 Good sense wins favour,(CS)
but the way of the treacherous never changes.[k]

16 Every sensible person acts knowledgeably,
but a fool displays his stupidity.(CT)

17 A wicked envoy falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy courier brings healing.(CU)

18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honoured.(CV)

19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,
but to turn from evil is detestable to fools.(CW)

20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but good rewards the righteous.(CX)

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his[l] grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.(CY)

23 The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food,
but without justice, it is swept away.

24 The one who will not use the rod hates his son,(CZ)
but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.(DA)

25 A righteous person eats until he is satisfied,
but the stomach of the wicked is empty.(DB)

14 Every wise woman builds her house,(DC)
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.(DD)

Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,(DE)
but the one who is devious in his ways despises him.(DF)

The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,[m]
but the lips of the wise protect them.(DG)

Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,[n]
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.

An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.(DH)

A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

Stay away from a foolish person;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(DI)

The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

Fools mock at making reparation,[o]
but there is goodwill among the upright.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no outsider shares in its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.(DJ)

12 There is a way that seems right to a person,(DK)
but its end is the way to death.(DL)

13 Even in laughter a heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.(DM)

14 The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves,
and a good one, what his deeds deserve.(DN)

15 The inexperienced one believes anything,(DO)
but the sensible one watches[p] his steps.

16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil,(DP)
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.[q]

17 A quick-tempered person acts foolishly,
and one who schemes is hated.(DQ)

18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before those who are good,
and the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

20 A poor person is hated even by his neighbour,(DR)
but there are many who love the rich.(DS)

21 The one who despises his neighbour sins,(DT)
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.(DU)

22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?(DV)
But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.(DW)

23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk[r] leads only to poverty.(DX)

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

25 A truthful witness rescues lives,
but one who utters lies is deceitful.(DY)

26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence
and his children have a refuge.(DZ)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.(EA)

28 A large population is a king’s splendour,
but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.

29 A patient person shows great understanding,(EB)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,(EC)
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.(ED)

31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,(EE)
but one who is kind to the needy honours him.(EF)

32 The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin,(EG)
but the righteous one has a refuge in his death.(EH)

33 Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;(EI)
she is known[s] even among fools.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.(EJ)

35 A king favours a prudent servant,(EK)
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

Footnotes

  1. 11:7 LXX reads hope of the ungodly
  2. 11:7 Or strength
  3. 11:16 Or ruthless
  4. 11:21 Lit Hand to hand
  5. 12:4 Or A wife of quality, or A wife of good character
  6. 12:12 Or desire a stronghold of evil
  7. 12:26 Or person guides his neighbour
  8. 12:28 Or righteousness, but the crooked way leads to death
  9. 13:6 Lit guards integrity of way
  10. 13:11 Lit whoever gathers upon his hand
  11. 13:15 LXX, Syr, Tg read treacherous will perish
  12. 13:22 Or inheritance: his
  13. 14:3 Some emend to In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back
  14. 14:4 Or clean
  15. 14:9 Or at guilt offerings
  16. 14:15 Lit the prudent understands
  17. 14:16 Or and falls
  18. 14:23 Lit but word of lips
  19. 14:33 LXX reads unknown