A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight.
² When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.
³ The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
⁴ Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
⁶ The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
⁷ When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of strong men perishes.
⁸ The righteous is delivered from trouble,
But the wicked ^[a]takes his place.
⁹ With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
¹⁰ When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
¹² He who despises his neighbor lacks ^[b]sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
¹³ He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is ^[c]trustworthy conceals a matter.
¹⁴ Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is ^[d]victory.
¹⁵ He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
But he who hates ^[e]being a guarantor is secure.