Dishonest Scales
Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Ezekiel 45:10–12
1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.+ 2When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.+ 3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.+ 4Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.+ 5The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.+ 6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.+ 7When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.+ 8The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.+ 9With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.+ 10When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.+ 11By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.+ 12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.+ 13A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.+ 14For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.+ 15He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.+ 16A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.+ 17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.+ 18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.+ 19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.+ 20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.+ 21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.+ 22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.+ 23The desire of the righteous leads only to good, but the hope of the wicked brings wrath.+ 24One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.+ 25A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.+ 26The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it.+ 27He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.+ 28He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.+ 29He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.+ 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.+ 31If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!+