Proverbs

A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

1The LORD hates scales that cheat people. Honest weights make him glad.

NoteA "balance" was a set of scales used in the market. A merchant with rigged weights could cheat every customer, so honest weights meant honest trade.

2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

2Pride shows up, and shame comes right behind it. But wise people are humble.

3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

3Honest people are guided by their honesty. Crooked people are ruined by their own crookedness.

4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

4Money will not help you on the day punishment comes. Doing right saves a person from death.

5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

5Doing right keeps a blameless person on a straight path. Wicked people trip over their own wrongdoing.

6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

6Honest people are rescued by the right things they do. People who break faith get caught by their own greed.

7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

7When a wicked man dies, everything he counted on dies too. All he hoped for comes to nothing.

8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

8The person who does right is pulled out of trouble. The wicked one ends up in it instead.

9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

9A person who fakes goodness ruins his neighbor with his talk. But knowledge rescues those who do right.

10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

10When good people do well, the whole city is glad. When wicked people are gone, the city cheers.

11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

11A city is built up by the blessing of honest people. It is torn down by the words of wicked ones.

12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

12A person with no sense puts his neighbor down. A person with understanding keeps quiet.

13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

13A gossip tells other people's secrets. A person you can trust keeps them.

14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

14Without good advice, a nation falls. With many wise advisers, it is safe.

15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

15Promise to pay a stranger's debt, and you will be sorry. Refuse such deals, and you stay safe.

NoteBeing "surety" meant promising to pay someone else's debt if they could not. "Shall smart for it" means he will suffer for it.

16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

16A kind woman gains real respect. Harsh men gain only money.

17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

17A kind person does himself good. A cruel person brings trouble on himself.

Note"Soul" here means the person himself, not a separate spirit part. "Troubleth his own flesh" means he harms his own body and life.

18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

18The wicked man works for pay that is not real. The one who plants what is right gets a sure reward.

19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

19Truly doing right leads to life. Chasing after evil leads to death.

20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

20The LORD hates people whose hearts are twisted. He delights in people who live honestly.

21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

21Be sure of this: the wicked will be punished. The children of good people will get away safe.

22As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

22A beautiful woman with no good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.

23The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

23What good people want leads only to good. What wicked people expect is punishment.

24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

24One person gives freely and ends up with more. Another holds back what he should give and ends up poor.

25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

25A generous person will do well. Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed himself.

Note"Made fat" sounds like an insult today, but in the KJV it meant well fed and prospering.

26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

26People curse the man who hoards grain instead of selling it. They bless the man who sells.

27He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

27Look hard for good, and you will find favor. Look for trouble, and trouble will find you.

28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

28Whoever trusts in his money will fall. Good people will grow green like healthy leaves.

29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

29A man who wrecks his own family will end up with nothing. A fool becomes the servant of the wise.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

30What a good person produces is a tree of life. The wise person wins people over.

31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

31Look: good people get what is coming to them here on earth. So the wicked and the sinner surely will too.