Dishonest Scales
Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Ezekiel 45:10–12
1Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.+ 2When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.+ 3The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.+ 4Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.+ 5The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.+ 6The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.+ 7At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction.+ 8The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.+ 9With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.+ 10When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.+ 11By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.+ 12He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.+ 13He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.+ 14When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.+ 15He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.+ 16A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth.+ 17The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.+ 18The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.+ 19So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.+ 20The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight+ 21Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.+ 22Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.+ 23The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.+ 24A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need.+ 25He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.+ 26He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.+ 27He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.+ 28He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.+ 29The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.+ 30The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.+ 31If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!+