English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.

1The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.

2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

4Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

5The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

6The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

7When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.

8The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.

8The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.

9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

9With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

10The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die.

11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

11Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.

13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

13A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

14Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

15There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

16A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.

16A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

17Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.

18The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

18Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.

19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.

19Godly people find life; evil people find death.

20Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

20The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.

21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

21Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.

22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

22A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

23The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.

24One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.

25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

25The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

26The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

26People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

27If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!

28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

28Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

29Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

29Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

30The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.

31If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

31If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.