11 A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord,
But an accurate scale is His delight.^(A)
2 
When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.
³ 
The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them,
But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
⁴ 
Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment,
But righteousness rescues from death.^(B)
5 
The righteousness of the blameless will smooth their way and keep it straight,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
⁶ 
The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
⁷ 
When the wicked man dies, his expectation will perish;
And the hope of [godless] strong men perishes.
^8 
[a]The righteous is rescued from trouble,
And the wicked takes his place.
⁹ 
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge and discernment the righteous will be rescued.
¹⁰ 
When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
¹¹ 
By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
¹² 
He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
¹³ 
He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy and faithful keeps a matter hidden.
¹⁴ 
Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm],
But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.
¹⁵ 
He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness],
But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].
¹⁶ 
A gracious and good woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].
¹⁷ 
The merciful and generous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him],
But the cruel and callous man does himself harm.
¹⁸ 
The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].^(C)
19 
He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life,
But he who pursues evil attains his own death.
²⁰ 
The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the Lord,
But those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight!
²¹ 
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be freed.
²² 
As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a beautiful woman who is without discretion [her lack of character mocks her beauty].
²³ 
The desire of the righteous brings only good,
But the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.
²⁴ 
There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more;
And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.
²⁵ 
The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched,
And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown].^(D)
26 
The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it],
But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.
²⁷ 
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
²⁸ 
He who leans on and trusts in and is confident in his riches will fall,
But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹ 
He who troubles (mismanages) his own house will inherit the wind (nothing),
And the foolish will be a servant to the wise-hearted.
³⁰ 
The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity].^(E)
31 
If the righteous will be rewarded on the earth [with godly blessings],
How much more [will] the wicked and the sinner [be repaid with punishment]!