15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    (A)but terror to evildoers.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Whoever (A)sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and (B)the rod of his fury will fail.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

22 (A)Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or (B)crush the afflicted at (C)the gate,

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 (A)Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

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

take away (A)the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his (B)throne will be established in righteousness.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Evil men (A)do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord (B)understand it completely.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

By justice a king (A)builds up the land,
    but he who exacts gifts[a] tears it down.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily

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

Read full chapter

26 Many (A)seek the face of a ruler,
    but it is from the Lord that a man (B)gets justice.
27 (C)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
    but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

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

(A)Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.[a]
Open your mouth, (B)judge righteously,
    (C)defend the rights of (D)the poor and needy.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:8 Hebrew are 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