²¹ for only good men enjoy life to the full;^[a]

³² For such men are an abomination to the Lord, but he gives his friendship to the godly.

³ A good man is guided by his honesty; the evil man is destroyed by his dishonesty.

⁶ The good man’s goodness delivers him; the evil man’s treachery is his undoing.

¹¹ The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper, but the moral decay of the wicked drives it downhill.

⁹ The common bond of rebels is their guilt.^[a] The common bond of godly people is goodwill.

¹¹ The work of the wicked will perish; the work of the godly will flourish.

⁸ The Lord hates the gifts of the wicked but delights in the prayers of his people.

¹⁹ A lazy fellow has trouble all through life; the good man’s path is easy!

¹⁷ The path of the godly leads away from evil; he who follows that path is safe.