Anxiety ¹  in a person’s heart ²  weighs him down, ³  but an encouraging ⁴  word brings him joy. ⁵ 

All of a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, ¹  but the Lord evaluates ²  the motives. ³ 

All a person’s ways ¹  seem right ²  in his own opinion, ³  but the Lord evaluates ⁴  the motives. ⁵ 

For the ways of a person ¹  are in front of the Lord’s eyes, and the Lord ²  weighs ³  all that person’s ⁴  paths.

Here is ¹  another misfortune ²  that I have seen on earth, ³  and it weighs ⁴  heavily on people: ⁵ 

If you say, “But we did not know about this,” does not the one who evaluates ¹  hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds? ² 

Your mind will recall the terror you experienced, ¹  and you will ask yourselves, ²  “Where is the scribe? Where is the one who weighs the money? Where is the one who counts the towers?” ³ 

Everyone who crosses over to those who are numbered ¹  is to pay this: a half shekel ²  according to the shekel of the sanctuary ³  (a shekel weighs twenty gerahs). The half shekel is to be an offering ⁴  to the Lord.

And those that must be redeemed you are to redeem when they are a month old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of silver according to the sanctuary shekel (which is twenty gerahs).

A king sitting on the throne to judge ¹  separates out ²  all evil with his eyes. ³ 

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, for the oppression ¹  of the king ²  is severe upon his victim. ³ 

collect ¹  five shekels for each ²  one individually; you are to collect ³  this amount ⁴  in the currency of the sanctuary shekel (this shekel is twenty gerahs). ⁵ 

The heart of the righteous considers ¹  how ²  to answer, ³  but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. ⁴ 

Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts ¹  the coastlands ²  as if they were dust.