The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.
This verse shows righteousness as liberating and greed as entrapping.
1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, 2When pride comes, disgrace follows, 3The integrity of the upright guides them, 4Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, 5The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, 6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, 7When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, 8The righteous man is delivered from trouble; 9With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, 10When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, 11By the blessing of the upright a city is built up, 12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, 13A gossip reveals a secret, 14For lack of guidance, a nation falls, 15He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, 16A gracious woman attains honor, 17A kind man benefits himself, 18The wicked man earns an empty wage, 19Genuine righteousness leads to life, 20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, 21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, 22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout 23The desire of the righteous leads only to good, 24One gives freely, yet gains even more; 25A generous soul will prosper, 26The people will curse the hoarder of grain, 27He who searches out good finds favor, 28He who trusts in his riches will fall, 29He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, 31If the righteous receive their due on earth,