Family Prayer
in the Early Evening

11 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    but a just weight is his delight.
² When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with the humble is wisdom.
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 his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
⁷ When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
    and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
⁸ The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹ With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰ When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
    and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
¹¹ By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
¹² Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³ Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴ Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
    but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵ Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
    but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶ A gracious woman gets honor,
    and violent men get riches.
¹⁷ A man who is kind benefits himself,
    but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸ The wicked earns deceptive wages,
    but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹ Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
    but he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰ Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.
²¹ Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²² Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴ One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵ Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
    and one who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶ The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
²⁷ Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to him who searches for it.
²⁸ Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹ Whoever troubles his own household 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 whoever captures souls is wise.
³¹ If the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!