Be not aenvious of evil men,
nor desire to be bwith them,
2 for their hearts adevise violence,
and their lips btalk of trouble.
3 By awisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all aprecious and pleasant riches.
5 aA wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6 for by awise guidance you can wage your war,
and in babundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is atoo high for a fool;
in bthe gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Whoever aplans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9 aThe devising of folly is sin,
and bthe scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
10 If you afaint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 aRescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
adoes not he who bweighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who ckeeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man daccording to his work?
13 My son, aeat honey, for it is good,
and bthe drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be aa future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
15 aLie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do no violence to his home;
16 afor the righteous falls bseven times and rises again,
but cthe wicked stumble in times of calamity.
17 aDo not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
19 aFret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not benvious of the wicked,
20 for the evil man has no afuture;
bthe lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, afear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
More Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of athe wise.
bPartiality in judging is not good.
24 Whoever asays to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
bwill be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26 Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.
27 aPrepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.
28 aBe not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, a“I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
30 aI passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man blacking sense,
31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone awall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and aconsidered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33 aA little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.