111 Balances of deceit 'are' an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight 'is' His delight.

2 Pride hath come, and shame cometh, And with the lowly 'is' wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright leadeth them, And the perverseness of the treacherous destroyeth them.

4 Wealth profiteth not in a day of wrath, And righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall. 6 The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.

7 In the death of a wicked man, hope perisheth, And the expectation of the iniquitous hath been lost.

8 The righteous from distress is drawn out, And the wicked goeth in instead of him.

9 With the mouth a hypocrite corrupteth his friend, And by knowledge the righteous are drawn out.

10 In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked 'is' singing. 11 By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.

12 Whoso is despising his neighbour lacketh heart, And a man of understanding keepeth silence. 13 A busybody is revealing secret counsel, And the faithful of spirit is covering the matter.

14 Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance 'is' in a multitude of counsellors.

15 Evil 'one' suffereth when he hath been surety 'for' a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible 'men' retain riches.

17 A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.

18 The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso is sowing righteousness—a true reward.

19 Rightly 'is' righteousness for life, And whoso is pursuing evil—for his own death.

20 An abomination to Jehovah 'are' the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way 'are' His delight.

21 Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.

22 A ring of gold in the nose of a sow—A fair woman and stubborn of behaviour.

23 The desire of the righteous 'is' only good, The hope of the wicked 'is' transgression.

24 There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

25 A liberal soul is made fat, And whoso is watering, he also is watered.

26 Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing 'is' for the head of him who is selling.

27 Whoso is earnestly seeking good Seeketh a pleasing thing, And whoso is seeking evil—it meeteth him.

28 Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

29 Whoso is troubling his own house inheriteth wind, And a servant 'is' the fool to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous 'is' a tree of life, And whoso is taking souls 'is' wise.

31 Lo, the righteous in the earth is recompensed, Surely also the wicked and the sinner!

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep, 2 For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee. 3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart, 4 And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man. 5 Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not. 6 In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil. 8 Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones. 9 Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase; 10 And filled are thy barns 'with' plenty, And 'with' new wine thy presses break forth. 11 Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof, 12 For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

13 O the happiness of a man 'who' hath found wisdom, And of a man 'who' bringeth forth understanding. 14 For better 'is' her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase. 15 Precious she 'is' above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to her. 16 Length of days 'is' in her right hand, In her left 'are' wealth and honour. 17 Her ways 'are' ways of pleasantness, And all her paths 'are' peace. 18 A tree of life she 'is' to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her 'is' happy. 19 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding. 20 By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

21 My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness, 22 And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble. 24 If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh. 26 For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.

27 Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand 'is' toward God to do 'it'. 28 Say not thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee. 29 Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee. 30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil. 31 Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways. 32 For an abomination to Jehovah 'is' the perverted, And with the upright 'is' His secret counsel. 33 The curse of Jehovah 'is' in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth. 34 If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace. 35 Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!