1The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.

2With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

3Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.

4Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.

5The goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

6The goodness of those who live right will save them, but the dishonest are trapped by their own desires.

7When a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.

8The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.

9Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.

10The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.

11Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.

12People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.

13A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.

14A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.

15You'll get into trouble if you guarantee a stranger's loans—you're far safer if you refuse to make such pledges.

16A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.

17If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.

18The wicked earn wages that cheat them, ²⁰but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.

19Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.

20The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.

21You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.

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

23Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.

24If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.

25If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.

26People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.

27If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find it!

28If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.

29If you cause trouble in your family, you'll inherit nothing but air. Stupid people end up as servants to those who think wisely.

30The fruit of the good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people. ²¹

31If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!