1 Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.5 The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.6 Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.7 Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.8 Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer.9 The schemes of folly are sin, and people detest a mocker.10 If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!11 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.12 If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place;16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,18 or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.19 Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked,20 for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.21 Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good:24 Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.27 Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause — would you use your lips to mislead?29 Do not say, "I'll do to them as they have done to me; I'll pay them back for what they did."30 I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;31 thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest —34 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

1 [Ne muleris viros malos,nec desideres esse cum eis :2 quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum,et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur.3 Sapientia dificabitur domus,et prudentia roborabitur.4 In doctrina replebuntur cellaria,universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.5 Vir sapiens fortis est,et vir doctus robustus et validus :6 quia cum dispositione initur bellum,et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt.7 Excelsa stulto sapientia ;in porta non aperiet os suum.8 Qui cogitat mala facere stultus vocabitur :9 cogitatio stulti peccatum est,et abominatio hominum detractor.10 Si desperaveris lassus in die angusti,imminuetur fortitudo tua.]11 [Erue eos qui ducuntur ad mortem,et qui trahuntur ad interitum, liberare ne cesses.12 Si dixeris : Vires non suppetunt ;qui inspector est cordis ipse intelligit :et servatorem anim tu nihil fallit,reddetque homini juxta opera sua.13 Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est,et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo.14 Sic et doctrina sapienti anim tu :quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem,et spes tua non peribit.15 Ne insidieris, et quras impietatem in domo justi,neque vastes requiem ejus.16 Septies enim cadet justus, et resurget :impii autem corruent in malum.17 Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus ne gaudeas,et in ruina ejus ne exsultet cor tuum :18 ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei,et auferat ab eo iram suam.19 Ne contendas cum pessimis,nec muleris impios :20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali,et lucerna impiorum extinguetur.21 Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem,et cum detractoribus non commiscearis :22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum,et ruinam utriusque quis novit ?]23 Hc quoque sapientibus. [Cognoscere personam in judicio non est bonum.24 Qui dicunt impio : Justus es : maledicent eis populi,et detestabuntur eos tribus.25 Qui arguunt eum laudabuntur,et super ipsos veniet benedictio.26 Labia deosculabiturqui recta verba respondet.27 Prpara foris opus tuum,et diligenter exerce agrum tuum,ut postea difices domum tuam.28 Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum,nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis.29 Ne dicas : Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei ;reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.]30 [Per agrum hominis pigri transivi,et per vineam viri stulti :31 et ecce totum repleverant urtic,et operuerant superficiem ejus spin,et maceria lapidum destructa erat.32 Quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo,et exemplo didici disciplinam.33 Parum, inquam, dormies, modicum dormitabis ;pauxillum manus conseres ut quiescas :34 et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas,et mendicitas quasi vir armatus.]