The Way
The Scales in the Market
The Lord hates dishonest scales
Story
My son, the sun is starting to sink, so let's go back to the market. Every trader has hung up his scales and is weighing out grain and oil to sell. Watch that grain seller's hands carefully. He keeps two sets of weights in his pouch: the heavy one when he buys, the light one when he sells. The scales are tipped, and the buyer never notices.
Dishonest scales are hateful to the Lord, but an honest weight is his delight. Unequal weights and unequal measures, the Lord hates them both alike. Honest balances and scales belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are his making.
My son, God sees everything, even inside the pouch where no one else can look. Choose a good name rather than great riches, and favor rather than silver or gold. Let's stop by my friend's house and eat supper together before the sun goes down.
Walk this scene on the map →Sayings
Dishonest scales are hateful to the Lord, but an honest weight is his delight.
Honest balances and scales belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are his making.
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor rather than silver or gold.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Prov 11:1; 16:11; 20:10; 22:1
Background
In the markets of ancient Israel, people carried carved stone weights in a pouch and used them on the scales to buy and sell. Weights with the same name could differ slightly, and it was common to cheat by carrying both a heavy and a light weight. The Law also said not to keep two kinds of weights in your bag (Deut 25:13–16).
Pause and Reflect
Am I honest even where no one can see me?