¹⁵ He who is ^(A)surety^[a] for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates ^[b]being surety is secure.

¹⁶ A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
^17 (B)The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
¹⁸ The wicked man does deceptive work,
But ^(C)he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
¹⁹ As righteousness leads to ^(D)life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own ^(E)death.
²⁰ Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
^21 (F)Though they join ^[c]forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But ^(G)the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

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

²³ The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked ^(H)is wrath.

²⁴ There is one who ^(I)scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
^25 (J)The generous soul will be made rich,
^(K)And he who waters will also be watered himself.
²⁶ The people will curse ^(L)him who withholds grain,
But ^(M)blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

²⁷ He who earnestly seeks good ^[e]finds favor,
^(N)But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

^28 (O)He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But ^(P)the righteous will flourish like foliage.

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

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And ^(S)he who ^[f]wins souls is wise.

^31 (T)If the righteous will be ^[g]recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.