Tuesday 1st November 2022

11A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
   but an accurate weight is his delight.
² When pride comes, then comes disgrace;
   but wisdom is with the humble.
³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
   but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
⁴ Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
   but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,
   but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
⁶ The righteousness of the upright saves them,
   but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.
⁷ When the wicked die, their hope perishes,
   and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.
⁸ The righteous are delivered from trouble,
   and the wicked get into it instead.
⁹ With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbours,
   but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰ When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
   and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
   but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
¹² Whoever belittles another lacks sense,
   but an intelligent person remains silent.
¹³ A gossip goes about telling secrets,
   but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.
¹⁴ Where there is no guidance, a nation^* falls,
   but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety.
¹⁵ To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,
   but there is safety in refusing to do so.
¹⁶ A gracious woman gets honour,
   but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.^*
The timid become destitute,^*
   but the aggressive gain riches.
¹⁷ Those who are kind reward themselves,
   but the cruel do themselves harm.
¹⁸ The wicked earn no real gain,
   but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.
¹⁹ Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
   but whoever pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,
   but those of blameless ways are his delight.
²¹ Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,
   but those who are righteous will escape.
²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
   is a beautiful woman without good sense.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
   the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴ Some give freely, yet grow all the richer;
   others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
²⁵ A generous person will be enriched,
   and one who gives water will get water.
²⁶ The people curse those who hold back grain,
   but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.
²⁷ Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favour,
   but evil comes to the one who searches for it.
²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will wither,^*
   but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
²⁹ Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
   and the fool will be servant to the wise.
³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
   but violence^* takes lives away.
³¹ If the righteous are repaid on earth,
   how much more the wicked and the sinner!

NRSV