King James Bible | New Living Translation |
1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. | 1The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. |
2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. | 2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. |
3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. | 3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. |
4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. | 4Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. |
5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. | 5The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. |
6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. | 6The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them. |
7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. | 7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. |
8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. | 8The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. |
9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. | 9With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. |
10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. | 10The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die. |
11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. | 11Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. |
12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. | 12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet. |
13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. | 13A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. |
14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety. | 14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers. |
15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. | 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 retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. | 16A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. |
17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. | 17Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you. |
18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. | 18Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. |
19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. | 19Godly people find life; evil people find death. |
20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. | 20The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity. |
21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. | 21Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free. |
22As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. | 22A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. |
23The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. | 23The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment. |
24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. | 24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. |
25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. | 25The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. |
26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. | 26People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need. |
27He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. | 27If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you! |
28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. | 28Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. |
29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall 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 that winneth souls is wise. | 30The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends. |
31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. | 31If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners? |
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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