1False scales are an abomination to the Lord,

but an honest weight, his delight.* a

2When pride comes, disgrace comes;

but with the humble is wisdom.*

3The honesty of the upright guides them;

the faithless are ruined by their duplicity.

4Wealth is useless on a day of wrath,* b

but justice saves from death.

5The justice of the honest makes their way straight,

but by their wickedness the wicked fall.* c

6The justice of the upright saves them,

but the faithless are caught in their own intrigue.

7When a person dies, hope is destroyed;d

expectation pinned on wealth is destroyed.*

8The just are rescued from a tight spot,

but the wicked fall into it instead.

9By a word the impious ruin their neighbors,e

but through their knowledge the just are rescued.*

10When the just prosper, the city rejoices;f

when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

11Through the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,

but through the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

12Whoever reviles a neighbor lacks sense,

but the intelligent keep silent.

13One who slanders reveals secrets,g

but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

14For lack of guidance a people falls;

security lies in many counselors.h

15Harm will come to anyone going surety for another,i

but whoever hates giving pledges is secure.*

16A gracious woman gains esteem,

and ruthless men gain wealth.*

17Kindly people benefit themselves,

but the merciless harm themselves.

18The wicked make empty profits,

but those who sow justice have a sure reward.j

19Justice leads toward life,

but pursuit of evil, toward death.

20The crooked in heart are an abomination to the Lord,

but those who walk blamelessly are his delight.*

21Be assured, the wicked shall not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the just shall escape.

22Like a golden ring in a swine’s snout

is a beautiful woman without judgment.*

23The desire of the just ends only in good;

the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24One person is lavish yet grows still richer;

another is too sparing, yet is the poorer.*

25Whoever confers benefits will be amply enriched,

and whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

26Whoever hoards grain, the people curse,

but blessings are on the head of one who distributes it!

27Those who seek the good seek favor,

but those who pursue evil will have evil come upon them.*

28Those who trust in their riches will fall,

but like green leaves the just will flourish.k

29Those who trouble their household inherit the wind,

and fools become slaves to the wise of heart.

30The fruit of justice is a tree of life,

and one who takes lives is a sage.*

31If the just are recompensed on the earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!* l