1 Be not *ver. 19;See Ps. 37:1envious of evil men,

nor desire to be *See ch. 1:15with them,

2 for their hearts *[Isa. 59:13] devise violence,

and their lips *Ps. 10:7talk of trouble.

3 By *[ch. 14:1]wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

4 by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all *[ch. 23:23;Luke 16:11]precious and pleasant riches.

5 *[ch. 21:22]A wise man is full of strength,

and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

6 for by *ch. 20:18wise guidance you can wage your war,

and in *See ch. 11:14abundance of counselors there is victory.

7 Wisdom is *[ch. 14:6] too high for a fool;

in *See Job 5:4the gate he does not open his mouth.

8 Whoever *Rom. 1:30plans to do evil

will be called a schemer.

9 *[ch. 21:27] The devising*24:9 Or scheming of folly is sin,

and *See Ps. 1:1the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

10 If you *[Heb. 12:3]faint in the day of adversity,

your strength is small.

11 *Ps. 82:4;[Isa. 58:6,7]Rescue 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,"

*[Eccles. 5:8] does not he who *ch. 16:2;See 1 Sam. 16:7weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who *[Ps. 91:11] keeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man *See Job 34:11according to his work?

13 My son, *[Ps. 19:10;119:103;Song 5:1;Isa. 7:15] eat honey, for it is good,

and *Song 4:11the 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 *See ch. 23:18a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

15 *Ps. 10:9,10Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;

do no violence to his home;

16 *See Ps. 37:24for the righteous falls *See Job 5:19seven times and rises again,

but *ch. 14:32the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

17 *Ps. 35:15,19;[Mic. 7:8]; See ch. 17:5Do 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 *[Jer. 12:1]; See Ps. 37:1Fret not yourself because of evildoers,

and be not *ver. 1envious of the wicked,

20 for the evil man has no *[See ver. 14above] future;

*ch. 13:9;See Job 18:5the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, *1 Pet. 2:17;[Rom. 13:7]fear 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?

23 These also are sayings of *ch. 1:6;22:17the wise.

*See ch. 18:5Partiality in judging is not good.

24 Whoever *See ch. 17:15says to the wicked, "You are in the right,"

*ch. 11:26will 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 *[Luke 14:28]Prepare your work outside;

get everything ready for yourself in the field,

and after that build your house.

28 *[ch. 25:18]Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,

and do not deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say, *See ch. 20:22"I will do to him as he has done to me;

I will pay the man back for what he has done."

30 *[Job 5:3] I passed by the field of a sluggard,

by the vineyard of a man *See ch. 6:32lacking sense,

31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone *Isa. 5:5wall was broken down.

32 Then I saw and *[ch. 22:17]considered it;

I looked and received instruction.

33 *For ver. 33, 34, see ch. 6:10,11A 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.