27 (A)Do not withhold good from [a]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (B)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 (C)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (D)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (E)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (F)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [b]He is (G)intimate with the upright.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
  2. Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is

27 Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it,
    when it is in your power to do so.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go and come back;
    I’ll give it to you tomorrow,” when you have it.
29 Don’t plan to harm your neighbor
    who trusts and lives near you.
30 Don’t accuse anyone without reason,
    when they haven’t harmed you.
31 Don’t envy violent people
    or choose any of their ways.
32 Devious people are detestable to the Lord,
    but the virtuous are his close friends.

Read full chapter

[a](A)Ill-gotten gains do not benefit,
But righteousness rescues from death.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:2 Lit Treasures of wickedness

The treasure of the wicked won’t profit them,
    but righteousness rescues people from death.

Read full chapter

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

11 A (A)false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
But a (B)just weight is His delight.

Read full chapter

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
    but delights in an accurate weight.

Read full chapter

One who (A)guards his mouth protects his life;
One who (B)opens wide his lips [a]comes to ruin.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:3 Lit ruin is his

People who watch their mouths guard their lives,
    but those who open their lips are ruined.

Read full chapter

11 Wealth obtained from [a]nothing dwindles,
But one who gathers [b]by labor increases it.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 Prob. referring to fraud
  2. Proverbs 13:11 Lit by hand

11 Riches gotten quickly[a] will dwindle,
    but those who acquire them gradually become wealthy.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 LXX; MT from meaninglessness

One who (A)walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But one who is (B)devious in his ways despises Him.

Read full chapter

Those who walk with integrity fear the Lord,
    but those who take a crooked path despise him.

Read full chapter

A (A)trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a (B)false witness (C)declares lies.

Read full chapter

A truthful witness doesn’t lie,
    but a false witness spews lies.

Read full chapter

27 He who (A)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who (B)hates bribes will live.

Read full chapter

27 Those who acquire things unjustly gain trouble for their house,
    but those who hate bribes will live.

Read full chapter

By (A)mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by [a]the (B)fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:6 Or reverence for

Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt;
    the fear of the Lord turns away evil.

Read full chapter

Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.

Read full chapter

Better a little with righteousness
    than great profits without justice.

Read full chapter

11 A (A)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [a]weights of the bag are His [b]concern.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
  2. Proverbs 16:11 Lit work

11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
    all the weights in the bag are his doing.

Read full chapter

A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

Read full chapter

An insightful servant rules over a disgraceful son
    and will divide an inheritance
    with the brothers.

Read full chapter