1Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.

2When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.

3The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.

4Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.

5The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.

6The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.

7At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction.

8The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.

9With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.

10When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.

11By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.

12He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.

13He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.

14When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.

15He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.

16A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth.

17The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.

18The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.

19So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.

20The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight

21Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.

22Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.

23The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.

24A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need.

25He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.

26He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.

27He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.

28He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.

29The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.

30The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.

31If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!