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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!