¹⁶ A kindhearted woman gains honor,^(A)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷ Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

¹⁸ A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.^(B)

¹⁹ Truly the righteous attain life,^(C)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.^(D)

²⁰ The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,^(E)
    but he delights^(F) in those whose ways are blameless.^(G)

²¹ Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.^(H)

²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous^(I) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.^(J)