Dishonest Scales
(Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Ezekiel 45:10–12)

1Balances of deceit, an abomination of Jehovah: and a whole stone his delight.

2Pride coming, and dishonor will come: and wisdom with the humble.

3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: and the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

4Wealth will not profit in the day of wrath, and justice will deliver from death.

5The justice of the blameless shall make straight his way, and in his injustice the unjust shall fall.

6The justice of the upright shall deliver them, and transgressors shall be taken in their mischief.

7In the death of an unjust man expectation shall perish: and the hope of the vain shall perish.

8The just one was delivered from straits, and the unjust will come in his stead.

9With the mouth the profane will destroy his neighbor: and by knowledge, shall the just one be delivered.

10In the good of the just the city will exult: and in the perishing of the unjust it rejoiced.

11By the blessing of the upright the city shall be exalted: and by the mouth of the unjust it shall be overthrown.

12He wanting heart despised for his neighbor: and a man of understanding will be silent.

13He going about tale-bearing reveals a secret: and he being faithful of spirit hides the word.

14In no guidance the people will fall: and salvation in a multitude of counseling.

15The evil one shall become evil, for he became surety for a stranger: and he hating those striking hands being secure.

16A woman of grace will obtain honor, and the powerful will obtain riches.

17The man of mercy benefited his soul: and the cruel troubled his flesh.

18The unjust one did a work of falsehood: and the seed of justice the reward of truth.

19So justice to life, and he pursuing evil, to his death.

20The perverse of heart are an abomination of Jehovah, and the blameless of way his delight.

21Hand to hand, the evil one shall not be unpunished: and the seed of the just were delivered.

22A ring of gold in the nose of a swine, a fair woman and she departed from discernment.

23The desire of the just is only good: the expectation of the unjust, wrath.

24There is scattering and yet adding; and the withholding more than right, only to want.

25The soul of blessing shall be made fat: also he watering, shall himself drink to the full.

26He withholding grain, the people shall curse him: and blessing upon the head of him selling.

27He seeking good shall strive after acceptance: and he seeking evil, it shall come to him.

28He trusting in his riches himself shall fall: and the just shall flourish as the foliage.

29He troubling his house shall inherit wind: and the foolish is servant to the wise of heart.

30The fruit of the just a tree of life; and he taking souls is wise.

31Behold, the just shall be requited in the earth: much more the unjust one and the sinning.