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

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

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

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

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. ⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

⁷ When the wicked dies, his hope perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nought.

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

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

¹⁰ When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. ¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹² He who belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. ¹³ He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden.

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

¹⁵ He who gives surety for a stranger will smart for it, but he who hates suretyship is secure.

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

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

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

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

²⁰ Men of perverse mind are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

²¹ Be assured, an evil man will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will be delivered.

²² Like a gold ring in a swine's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

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

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

²⁵ A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

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

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

²⁸ He who trusts in his riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

²⁹ He who troubles his household will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but lawlessness takes away lives.

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

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; ² for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you. ³ Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. ¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, ¹² for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, ¹⁴ for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy. ¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; ²⁰ by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight, ²² and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. ²³ Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. ²⁴ If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes; ²⁶ for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" --when you have it with you. ²⁹ Do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly beside you. ³⁰ Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. ³¹ Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways; ³² for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. ³³ The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous. ³⁴ Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor. ³⁵ The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.