Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1 A false balanceanddishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord,
But an accurate scale is His delight.
2 When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonorandshame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdomandsoundness of mind.
3 The integrityandmoral courage of the upright will guide them,
But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 Riches will not provide security in the day of wrathandjudgment,
But righteousness rescues from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will smooth their wayandkeep it straight,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
7 When the wicked man dies, his expectation will perish;
And the hope of [godless] strong men perishes.
8 The righteous is rescued from trouble,
And the wicked takes his place.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledgeanddiscernment the righteous will be rescued.
10 When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
13 He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthyandfaithful keeps a matter hidden.
14 Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm],
But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.
15 He who puts up securityandguarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness],
But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].
16 A graciousandgood woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].
17 The mercifulandgenerous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him],
But the cruelandcallous man does himself harm.
18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousnessandlives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].
19 He who is steadfast in righteousnessattainslife,
But he who pursues evilattainshis own death.
20 The perverse in heart are repulsiveandshamefully vile to the Lord,
But those who are blamelessandabove reproach in their walk are His delight!
21 Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be freed.
22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a beautiful woman who is without discretion [her lack of character mocks her beauty].
23 The desire of the righteous brings only good,
But the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.
24 There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more;
And there is the one who withholds what is justly due,but it resultsonly in wantandpoverty.
25 The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperousandenriched,
And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown].
26 The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it],
But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favorandgrace,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28 He who leans onandtrusts inandis confident in his riches will fall,
But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like agreenleaf.
29 He who troubles (mismanages) his own house will inherit the wind (nothing),
And the foolish will be a servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise capturesandwins souls [for God–he gathers them for eternity].
31 If the righteous will be rewarded on the earth [with godly blessings],
How much more [will] the wicked and the sinner [be repaid with punishment]!