| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight. | 1The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. |
| 2When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. | 2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. |
| 3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them. | 3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. |
| 4Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. | 4Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. |
| 5The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness. | 5The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. |
| 6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires. | 6The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them. |
| 7When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes. | 7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. |
| 8The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in. | 8The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. |
| 9With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued. | 9With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. |
| 10When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. | 10The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die. |
| 11By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. | 11Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. |
| 12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent. | 12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet. |
| 13A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence. | 13A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. |
| 14For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance. | 14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers. |
| 15He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure. | 15There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt. |
| 16A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. | 16A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. |
| 17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. | 17Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you. |
| 18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward. | 18Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. |
| 19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death. | 19Godly people find life; evil people find death. |
| 20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight. | 20The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity. |
| 21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape. | 21Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free. |
| 22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. | 22A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. |
| 23The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath. | 23The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment. |
| 24One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. | 24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. |
| 25A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. | 25The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. |
| 26The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it. | 26People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need. |
| 27He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it. | 27If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you! |
| 28He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage. | 28Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. |
| 29He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. | 29Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise. |
| 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. | 30The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends. |
| 31If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! | 31If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners? |
|
