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[1] A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but a just weight is his delight.
[2] When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
but with the humble is wisdom.
[3] The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
[4] Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
[5] The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
[6] The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
[7] When the wicked dies, his hope perishes,
and the expectation of the godless comes to nought.
[8] The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked gets into it instead.
[9] With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
[10] When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
[11] By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
[12] He who belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
[13] He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden.
[14] Where there is no guidance, a people falls;
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
[15] He who gives surety for a stranger will smart for it,
but he who hates suretyship is secure.
[16] A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
[17] A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
[18] A wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
[19] He who is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.
[20] Men of perverse mind are an abomination to the LORD,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.
[21] Be assured, an evil man will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will be delivered.
[22] Like a gold ring in a swine’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
[23] The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
[24] One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
[25] A liberal man will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
[26] The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
[27] He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
[28] He who trusts in his riches will wither,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
[29] He who troubles his household will inherit wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
[30] The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
but lawlessness takes away lives.
[31] If the righteous is requited on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
The Book of Proverbs is provided for non-commercial purposes by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Computer Analysis of Texts. Licensing information can be found here.
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