1 The Lord abhors dishonest scales,
but an accurate weight is his delight.
2 After pride came, disgrace followed;
but wisdom came with humility.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will make their way smooth,
but the wicked will fall through their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
but the treacherous will be ensnared by their own desires.
7 When a wicked person dies, his expectation perishes,
and hope based on power has perished.
8 A righteous person was delivered out of trouble,
then a wicked person took his place.
9 With his speech the godless person destroys his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 When the righteous do well, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there is joy.
11 A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright,
but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked.
12 The one who denounces his neighbor lacks sense,
but a discerning person keeps silent.
13 The one who goes about slandering others reveals secrets,
but the one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
14 When there is no guidance a nation falls,
but there is success in the abundance of counselors.
15 The one who has put up security for a stranger will surely have trouble,
but whoever avoids shaking hands is secure.
16 A generous woman gains honor,
and ruthless men seize wealth.
17 A kind person benefits himself,
but a cruel person brings himself trouble.
18 The wicked person earns deceitful wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a genuine reward.
19 True righteousness leads to life,
but the one who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 The Lord abhors those who are perverse in heart,
but those who are blameless in their ways are his delight.
21 Be assured that the evil person will not be unpunished,
but the descendants of the righteous have escaped harm.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who rejects discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy,
but another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty.
25 A generous person will be enriched,
and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.
26 People will curse the one who withholds grain,
but they will praise the one who sells it.
27 The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but the one who searches for evil—it will come to him.
28 The one who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29 The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing,
and the fool will be a servant to the wise person.
30 The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life,
and the one who wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous are recompensed on earth,
how much more the wicked sinner!
1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight. 3 Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude. 4 But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. 5 For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. 7 8 When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing.” 9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true.
10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. 11 As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city, 13 nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing. 14 But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people. 17 After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings, 18 which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”
22 Then Felix, who understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.
24 Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him. 27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.