1 Balances of deceit `are' an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight `is' His delight.

2 Pride hath come, and shame cometh, And with the lowly `is' wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright leadeth them, And the perverseness of the treacherous destroyeth them.

4 Wealth profiteth not in a day of wrath, And righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall.

6 The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.

7 In the death of a wicked man, hope perisheth, And the expectation of the iniquitous hath been lost.

8 The righteous from distress is drawn out, And the wicked goeth in instead of him.

9 With the mouth a hypocrite corrupteth his friend, And by knowledge the righteous are drawn out.

10 In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked `is' singing.

11 By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.

12 Whoso is despising his neighbour lacketh heart, And a man of understanding keepeth silence.

13 A busybody is revealing secret counsel, And the faithful of spirit is covering the matter.

14 Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance `is' in a multitude of counsellors.

15 Evil `one' suffereth when he hath been surety `for' a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible `men' retain riches.

17 A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.

18 The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso is sowing righteousness -- a true reward.

19 Rightly `is' righteousness for life, And whoso is pursuing evil -- for his own death.

20 An abomination to Jehovah `are' the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way `are' His delight.

21 Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.

22 A ring of gold in the nose of a sow -- A fair woman and stubborn of behaviour.

23 The desire of the righteous `is' only good, The hope of the wicked `is' transgression.

24 There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

25 A liberal soul is made fat, And whoso is watering, he also is watered.

26 Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing `is' for the head of him who is selling.

27 Whoso is earnestly seeking good Seeketh a pleasing thing, And whoso is seeking evil -- it meeteth him.

28 Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

29 Whoso is troubling his own house inheriteth wind, And a servant `is' the fool to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous `is' a tree of life, And whoso is taking souls `is' wise.

31 Lo, the righteous in the earth is recompensed, Surely also the wicked and the sinner!