A False Balance is an Abomination
1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.
15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Dishonest Scales
(Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Ezekiel 45:10–12)
1 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
17 The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the seed of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Dishonest Scales
(Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Ezekiel 45:10–12)
1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,
but an accurate weight is His delight.
2 When pride comes, disgrace follows,
but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
4 Riches are worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless directs their path,
but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
7 When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes,
and the hope of his strength vanishes.
8 The righteous man is delivered from trouble;
in his place the wicked man goes in.
9 With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
10 When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is built up,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
13 A gossip reveals a secret,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 For lack of guidance, a nation falls,
but with many counselors comes deliverance.
15 He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
16 A gracious woman attains honor,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
18 The wicked man earns an empty wage,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,
but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous leads only to good,
but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.
24 One gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
25 A generous soul will prosper,
and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 The people will curse the hoarder of grain,
but blessing will crown the one who sells it.
27 He who searches out good finds favor,
but evil will come to him who seeks it.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
29 He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner! a
Footnotes:
31 a LXX If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Cited in 1 Peter 4:18
A False Balance is an Abomination
1Balances of deceit are an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight is His delight.
2Pride hath come, and shame cometh, And with the lowly is wisdom.
3The integrity of the upright leadeth them, And the perverseness of the treacherous destroyeth them.
4Wealth profiteth not in a day of wrath, And righteousness delivereth from death.
5The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall.
6The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.
7In the death of a wicked man, hope perisheth, And the expectation of the iniquitous hath been lost.
8The righteous from distress is drawn out, And the wicked goeth in instead of him.
9With the mouth a hypocrite corrupteth his friend, And by knowledge the righteous are drawn out.
10In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked is singing.
11By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.
12Whoso is despising his neighbour lacketh heart, And a man of understanding keepeth silence.
13A busybody is revealing secret counsel, And the faithful of spirit is covering the matter.
14Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance is in a multitude of counsellors.
15Evil one suffereth when he hath been surety for a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.
16A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible men retain riches.
17A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.
18The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso is sowing righteousness -- a true reward.
19Rightly is righteousness for life, And whoso is pursuing evil -- for his own death.
20An abomination to Jehovah are the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way are His delight.
21Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.
22A ring of gold in the nose of a sow -- A fair woman and stubborn of behaviour.
23The desire of the righteous is only good, The hope of the wicked is transgression.
24There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.
25A liberal soul is made fat, And whoso is watering, he also is watered.
26Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing is for the head of him who is selling.
27Whoso is earnestly seeking good Seeketh a pleasing thing, And whoso is seeking evil -- it meeteth him.
28Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.
29Whoso is troubling his own house inheriteth wind, And a servant is the fool to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And whoso is taking souls is wise.
31Lo, the righteous in the earth is recompensed, Surely also the wicked and the sinner!
