15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to evildoers.(A)

Read full chapter

15 Acting justly is a joy to the righteous,
    but dreaded by those who do evil.

Read full chapter

The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,(A)
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

Read full chapter

Those who sow injustice will harvest evil;
    the rod of their fury will come to an end.

Read full chapter

22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed(A) at the city gate,(B)

Read full chapter

22 Don’t steal from the poor, because they are poor.
    Don’t oppress the needy in the gate.

Read full chapter

11 Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.(A)

Read full chapter

11 Rescue those being taken off to death;
    and from those staggering to the slaughter, don’t hold back.

Read full chapter

Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,(A)
and his throne will be established in righteousness.(B)

Read full chapter

Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Read full chapter

The evil do not understand justice,(A)
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.(B)

Read full chapter

Evil people don’t understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand everything.

Read full chapter

By justice a king brings stability to a land,(A)
but a person who demands “contributions”[a]
demolishes it.(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 29:4 The Hb word for contributions usually refers to offerings in worship.

A king gives stability to the land by justice,
    but one who imposes heavy taxes tears it down.

Read full chapter

26 Many desire a ruler’s favor,(A)
but a person receives justice from the Lord.(B)

27 An unjust person is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright
is detestable to the wicked.(C)

Read full chapter

26 Many seek access to the ruler,
    but justice comes from the Lord.
27 The unjust person is disgusting to the righteous;
    the straight path is disgusting to the wicked.

Read full chapter

Speak up[a] for those who have no voice,[b](A)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[c]
Speak up, judge righteously,(B)
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9
  2. 31:8 Lit who are mute
  3. 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away

Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
    and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.[a]
Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
    and to defend the needy and the poor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:8 Or all children who are passing away