English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.

1Dishonest scales are detestable to the LORD, but an accurate weight is his delight.

2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

2When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.

4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

4Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

5The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

6The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.

7When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

7When the wicked person dies, his expectation comes to nothing, and hope placed in wealth vanishes.

8The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.

8The righteous one is rescued from trouble; in his place, the wicked one goes in.

9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

9With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

10When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices; when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

11A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.

12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a person with understanding keeps silent.

13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

13A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

14Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

14Without guidance, a people will fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.

15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

15If someone puts up security for a stranger, he will suffer for it, but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

16A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.

16A gracious woman gains honor, but violent people gain only riches.

17A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.

18The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

18The wicked person earns an empty wage, but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.

19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.

19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but pursuing evil leads to death.

20Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

20Those with twisted minds are detestable to the LORD, but those with blameless conduct are his delight.

21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

21Be assured that a wicked person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

22A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

23The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

23The desire of the righteous turns out well, but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.

24One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

24One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

25A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.

26The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

26People will curse anyone who hoards grain, but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.

27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

27The one who searches for what is good seeks favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.

28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

28Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

29The one who brings ruin on his household will inherit the wind, and a fool will be a slave to someone whose heart is wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and a wise person captivates people.

31If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

31If the righteous will be repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and sinful.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.