1 Deceptive scales are an abomination to the LORD {YHWH, Moral Arbiter}, but a just weight is His delight {retzono: what pleases Him}.
2 When arrogance {zadon: overbearing self-worth} comes, then comes disgrace; but with the humble is wisdom {chokhmah: practical skill for living}.
3 The integrity {tummat: moral wholeness} of the upright will guide them, but the perverseness {selef: perversion} of traitors will destroy them.
4 Wealth {hon: material resources} will not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness {tzedakah: moral integrity} delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless {tsidqat: upright living} makes his way straight, but in his wickedness the wicked {rasha: morally corrupt} will fall.
6 The righteousness {tsidqat: moral vindication} of the upright shall deliver them, but the traitors will be caught in their own craving {behavat: corrupt desire}.
7 At the death of a wicked {rasha: morally perverse} man, his hope perishes, and the expectation {tohelet: confident anticipation} of the strong ones vanishes.
8 The righteous one {tsaddiq: morally upright} is delivered from trouble, and the wicked one comes in his place {takhtav: as a substitute}.
9 With his mouth a hypocrite{khanef: one who feigns piety} destroys his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous{tsaddiqim: those acting justly} will be delivered.
10 In the prosperity of the righteous {tsaddiqim: just individuals}, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation {rinnāh: joyful shout}.
11 By the blessing of the upright {yesharim: morally straight and just}, the city is exalted, but by the mouth {peh: source of speech and influence} of the wicked, it is overthrown.
12 Whoever despises his neighbor is lacking heart {khasar-lev: without sound judgment}, but a man of understanding {tevunot: discerning insight} keeps silent.
13 A talebearer goes about revealing a secret, but one with a faithful spirit {ruakh: inner disposition} conceals a matter {davar: issue or affair}.
14 Where there is no counsel {tachbulot: strategic plans}, the people fall; but in the abundance of counselors there is deliverance {uteshu'ah: rescue or salvation}.
15 He who becomes surety {arav: legally pledges} for a stranger will suffer harm, but whoever hates striking hands {toq'im: ritual pledge} remains secure.
16 A gracious {chen: pleasant favor} woman upholds honor, but violent men uphold riches {osher: material abundance}.
17 A man of kindness {chased: loyal love} does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh {she’er: bodily being}.
18 The wicked does a work of deception, but the one who sows righteousness {tsedaqah: moral uprightness} will receive a reward of truth {emet: faithful reliability}.
19 So righteousness {tsedaqah: moral rightness} leads to life, but whoever pursues evil goes to his death {mavet: state of dying}.
20 The crooked of heart are an abomination to the LORD {YHWH, Moral Judge}, but those who are upright in their way are His delight {retzono: pleasure and approval}.
21 Hand-to-hand, the wicked will not be acquitted {yinnāqeh: held innocent}, but the seed {zer‘a: offspring} of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like a ring {nezem: nose ornament} of gold in a pig’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion {ta'am: moral sense}.
23 The desire of the righteous {tsaddiqim: right-standing} is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath {evrah: severe anger}.
24 There is one who scatters{mefazzer: scatterer}, yet he increases even more, and one who withholds from uprightness, but it leads only to poverty{makhsor: deprivation}.
25 The soul {nefesh: inner life essence} of blessing will be enriched, and he who waters {umarveh: bestows drink} will himself also be watered.
26 The one who withholds {monea: withholding agent} grain will be cursed by the people, but a blessing will be upon the head of the one who sells {mashbir: community supplier}.
27 Whoever seeks good will find favor {ratzon: approval and goodwill}, but whoever searches for evil, it will come upon him {ra'ah: trouble or harm}.
28 He who trusts in his riches {ashro: material wealth} will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a leaf {aleh: sign of vitality}.
29 He who troubles his own house {bayit: household stability} will inherit the wind {ruach: empty fleeting result}, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous {tsaddiq: morally upright person} is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise {chakam: exercises discernment}.
31 Behold, the righteous {tsaddiq: one who is just} will be repaid in the land; how much more the wicked and the sinner {chote: habitual offender}.