1 Do not beenvious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;
2 For their heart devises violence,
And their lips talk of troublemaking.
3 Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4 By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise manisstrong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselorsthereissafety.
7 Wisdomistoo lofty for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8 He whoplots to do evil
Will be called a schemer.
9 The devising of foolishnessissin,
And the scofferisan abomination to men.
10 Ifyoufaint in the day of adversity,
Your strengthissmall.
11 Deliverthosewhoare drawn toward death,
And hold backthosestumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
# Does notHe who weighs the hearts considerit?
He who keeps your soul, does Henotknowit?
# And will Henotrender toeachmanaccording to his deeds?
13 My son,eat honey becauseitisgood,
And the honeycombwhichissweet to your taste;
14 Soshallthe knowledge of wisdombeto your soul;
If you have foundit,there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wickedman,against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
16 For a righteousmanmay fall seven times
And rise again,
# But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Lest theLordseeit,and it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no prospect for the evilman;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son,fear theLordand the king;
Do not associate with those given to change;
22 For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin those two can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 Thesethingsalsobelongto the wise:
# Itisnot good to show partiality in judgment.
24 He who says to the wicked, “Youarerighteous,”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
25 But those who rebukethewickedwill havedelight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
27 Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
For would you deceive with your lips?
29 Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
30 I went by the field of the lazyman,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
31 And there it was,all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I sawit,I considereditwell;
I looked onitandreceived instruction:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
34 So shall your poverty comelikea prowler,
And your need like an armed man.