But a 11:1 Lit. perfect stonejust weight is His delight.
2When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.
5The righteousness of the blameless will 11:5 Or make smooth or straightdirect his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
9The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12He who 11:12 Lit. lacks heartis devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
14Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15He who is surety11:15 guaranty for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates 11:15 those pledging guaranty, lit. those who strike handsbeing surety is secure.
16A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18The wicked man does deceptive work,
But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19As righteousness leads to life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks 11:22 tastediscretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26The people will curse him who withholds grain,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27He who earnestly seeks good 11:27 Lit. seeksfinds favor,
But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
28He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
29He who troubles his own house 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 11:30 Lit. takes, in the sense of brings, cf. 1 Sam. 16:11wins souls is wise.
31If the righteous will be 11:31 rewardedrecompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
