1Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,

but an accurate weight is his delight.

2When arrogance comes, disgrace follows,

but with humility comes wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.

4Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,

but righteousness rescues from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,

but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright rescues them,

but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.

7When the wicked person dies,

his expectation comes to nothing,

and hope placed in wealth vanishes.

8The righteous one is rescued from trouble;

in his place, the wicked one goes in.

9With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,

but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices;

when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

11A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,

but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.

12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,

but a person with understanding keeps silent.

13A gossip goes around revealing a secret,

but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

14Without guidance, a people will fall,

but with many counselors there is deliverance.

15If someone puts up security for a stranger,

he will suffer for it,

but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

16A gracious woman gains honor,

but violent people gain only riches.

17A kind man benefits himself,

but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.

18The wicked person earns an empty wage,

but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.

19Genuine righteousness leads to life,

but pursuing evil leads to death.

20Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,

but those with blameless conduct are his delight.

21Be assured that a wicked person

will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22A beautiful woman who rejects good sense

is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23The desire of the righteous turns out well,

but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.

24One person gives freely,

yet gains more;

another withholds what is right,

only to become poor.

25A generous person will be enriched,

and the one who gives a drink of water

will receive water.

26People will curse anyone who hoards grain,

but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.

27The one who searches for what is good seeks favor,

but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.

28Anyone trusting in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29The one who brings ruin on his household

will inherit the wind,

and a fool will be a slave

to someone whose heart is wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

but a cunning person takes lives.

31If the righteous will be repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and sinful.