- 1Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
- 2for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
- 3Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
- 4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
- 5A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
- 6for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
- 7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
- 8One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
- 9The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
- 10If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
- 11Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
- 12If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this”; doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
- 13My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
- 14so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.
- 15Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place:
- 16for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
- 17Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
- 18lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
- 19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
- 20for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
- 21My son, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:
- 22for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
- 23These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
- 24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
- 25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
- 26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
- 27Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
- 28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
- 29Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
- 30I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
- 31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
- 32Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
- 33a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
- 34so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.