New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.

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

2When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

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

3The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

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

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

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

5The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

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

6The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

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

7When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.

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

8The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.

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

9The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

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

10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

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

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

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

12He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.

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

13A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

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

14Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

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

15He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, But one who hates being surety is secure.

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

16A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.

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

17The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

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

18The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

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

19As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

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

20Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.

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

21Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

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

22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

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

23The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

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

24There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

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

25The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

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

26The people will curse him who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

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

27He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

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

28He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

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

29He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

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

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

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

31If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.