11¹ The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.

² When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. ⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

⁷ Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of[1] their power comes to nothing.

⁸ The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.

⁹ With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

¹⁰ When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. ¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

¹² Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. ¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

¹⁴ For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

¹⁶ A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷ Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

¹⁸ A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

¹⁹ Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.

²⁰ The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

²¹ Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

²² Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

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

²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

²⁶ People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God's blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

²⁷ Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.

²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

²⁹ Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

³¹ If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, ² for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. ³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[2]

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. ⁸ This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. ¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, ¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.[3]

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, ¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies; 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 pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. ¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; ²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; ²² they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. ²³ Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. ²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, ²⁶ for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you"- when you already have it with you. ²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. ³⁰ Do not accuse anyone for no reason- when they have done you no harm. ³¹ Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. ³² For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. ³³ The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. ³⁴ He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. ³⁵ The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.