The Value Of Righteousness

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

1 A (A)false balance is an abomination to the Lord,But a (B)just weight is His delight.

1 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,(A)but an accurate weight is His delight.(B)

1 The LORD hates false scales, but he delights in accurate weights.

1 A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord,But an accurate scale is His delight.(A)

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

2 When (C)pride comes, then comes dishonor,But with the humble is wisdom.

2 When pride comes, disgrace follows,but with humility comes wisdom.(C)

2 When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it, but humility is present with wisdom.

2 When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

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

3 The (D)integrity of the upright will guide them,But the (E)crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,(D)but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.(E)

3 The integrity of the righteous guides them, but the hypocrisy of the treacherous destroys them.

3 The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them,But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

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

4 (F)Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,But (G)righteousness delivers from death.

4 Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,but righteousness rescues from death.(F)

4 Wealth won't help in the time of judgment, but righteousness will deliver from death.

4 Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment,But righteousness rescues from death.(B)

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

5 The (H)righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,But (I)the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

5 The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

5 The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path, but the wicked fall by their wickedness.

5 The righteousness of the blameless will smooth their way and keep it straight,But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

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

6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,But the treacherous will (J)be caught by their own greed.

6 The righteousness of the upright rescues them,but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.(G)

6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are trapped by their evil desires.

6 The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

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

7 When a wicked man dies, his (K)expectation will perish,And the (L)hope of strong men perishes.

7 When the wicked man dies,his expectation comes to nothing,and hope placed in wealth(a)(b) vanishes.(H)

7 When a wicked person dies, his hope vanishes; and what he expected from his scheming comes to nothing.

7 When the wicked man dies, his expectation will perish;And the hope of [godless] strong men perishes.

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

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,But the wicked (a)takes his place.

8 The righteous one is rescued from trouble;in his place, the wicked one goes in.(I)

8 The righteous person is delivered from trouble; it comes upon the wicked instead.

8 (a)The righteous is rescued from trouble,And the wicked takes his place.

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

9 With his (M)mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,But through knowledge the (N)righteous will be delivered.

9 With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

9 By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,But through knowledge and discernment the righteous will be rescued.

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

10 When it (O)goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.

10 When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices,(J)and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

10 The city rejoices when the righteous prosper, and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.

10 When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices,And when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

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

11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

11 A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,(K)but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.(L)

11 Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up, but what the wicked say tears it down.

11 By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted,But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

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

12 He who despises his neighbor lacks (b)sense,But a man of understanding keeps silent.

12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,but a man with understanding keeps silent.(M)

12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but the discerning man controls his comments.

12 He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,But a man of understanding keeps silent.

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

13 He (P)who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,But he who is (c)trustworthy (Q)conceals a matter.

13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret,but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.(N)

13 Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets, but the trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

13 He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets,But he who is trustworthy and faithful keeps a matter hidden.

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

14 Where there is no (R)guidance the people fall,But in abundance of counselors there is (d)victory.

14 Without guidance, people fall,but with many counselors there is deliverance.(O)

14 A nation falls through a lack of guidance, but victory comes through the counsel of many.

14 Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm],But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.

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

15 He who is (S)guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,But he who hates (e)being a guarantor is secure.

15 If someone puts up security for a stranger,he will suffer for it,(P)but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

15 Securing a loan for a stranger will bring suffering, but by refusing to do so, one remains safe.

15 He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness],But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].

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

16 A (T)gracious woman attains honor,And ruthless men attain riches.

16 A gracious woman gains honor,but violent(c) men gain only riches.

16 A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men attain wealth.

16 A gracious and good woman attains honor,And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].

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

17 The (U)merciful man does (f)himself good,But the cruel man (g)does himself harm.

17 A kind man benefits himself,(Q)but a cruel man brings disaster on himself.(R)

17 A gracious man benefits himself, but the cruel person damages himself.

17 The merciful and generous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him],But the cruel and callous man does himself harm.

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

18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,But he who (V)sows righteousness gets a true reward.

18 The wicked man earns an empty wage,but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.(S)

18 Evil people earn deceptive wages, but those who plant righteousness are truly rewarded.

18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages,But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].(C)

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

19 He who is steadfast in (W)righteousness will attain to life,And (X)he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,(T)but pursuing evil leads to death.(U)

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, but whoever pursues evil will die.

19 He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life,But he who pursues evil attains his own death.

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

20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,But the (Y)blameless in their (h)walk are His (Z)delight.

20 Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,but those with blameless conduct are His delight.(V)

20 Devious minds are abhorrent to the LORD, but those whose ways are innocent are his delight.

20 The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the Lord,But those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight!

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

21 (i)Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,But the (j)descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

21 Be assured(d) that the wickedwill not go unpunished,(W)but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

21 Be sure of this: the wicked will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will go free.

21 Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,But the descendants of the righteous will be freed.

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

22 As a (AA)ring of gold in a swine’s snoutSo is a beautiful woman who lacks (k)discretion.

22 A beautiful woman who rejects good senseis like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.(X)

22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,So is a beautiful woman who is without discretion [her lack of character mocks her beauty].

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

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,But the (AB)expectation of the wicked is wrath.

23 The desire of the righteous turns out well,(Y)but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.(Z)

23 The desire of the righteous is to seek good, but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

23 The desire of the righteous brings only good,But the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.

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

24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.

24 One person gives freely,yet gains more;(AA)another withholds what is right,only to become poor.(AB)

24 Those who give freely gain even more; others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.

24 There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more;And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.

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

25 The (l)(AC)generous man will be (m)prosperous,And he who (AD)waters will himself be watered.

25 A generous person will be enriched,(AC)and the one who gives a drink of waterwill receive water.(AD)

25 A generous person will prosper, and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.

25 The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched,And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown].(D)

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

26 He who withholds grain, the (AE)people will curse him,But (AF)blessing will be on the head of him who (AG)sells it.

26 People will curse(AE) anyone who hoards grain,but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.(AF)

26 People will curse whoever withholds grain, but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

26 The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it],But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.

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

27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,But (AH)he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

27 The one who searches for what is good(AG) finds favor,but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.(AH)

27 The person seeking good will find favor, but anyone who searches for evil it will find him!

27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace,But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

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

28 He who (AI)trusts in his riches will fall,But (AJ)the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

28 Anyone trusting in his riches will fall,(AI)but the righteous will flourish like foliage.(AJ)

28 The person who trusts in his wealth will fall, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.

28 He who leans on and trusts in and is confident in his riches will fall,But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like a green leaf.

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

29 He who (AK)troubles his own house will (AL)inherit wind,And (AM)the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.

29 The one who brings ruin on his household(AK)will inherit the wind,(AL)and a fool will be a slaveto someone whose heart is wise.

29 Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

29 He who troubles (mismanages) his own house will inherit the wind (nothing),And the foolish will be a servant to the wise-hearted.

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

30 The fruit of the righteous is (AN)a tree of life,And (AO)he who is wise (n)wins souls.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(AM)but violence(e) takes lives.

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

30 The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life,And he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity].(E)

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

31 If (AP)the righteous will be rewarded in the earth,How much more the wicked and the sinner!

31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth,how much more the wicked and sinful.(AN) >

31 If the righteous receive what they are due here on earth, how much more will the wicked and the sinner.

31 If the righteous will be rewarded on the earth [with godly blessings],How much more [will] the wicked and the sinner [be repaid with punishment]!

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