1 Don’t be envious of evil men,

neither desire to be with them;

2 for their hearts plot violence

and their lips talk about mischief.

3 Through wisdom a house is built;

by understanding it is established;

4 by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all rare and beautiful treasure.

5 A wise man has great power.

A knowledgeable man increases strength,

6 for by wise guidance you wage your war,

and victory is in many advisors.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool.

He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

8 One who plots to do evil

will be called a schemer.

9 The schemes of folly are sin.

The mocker is detested by men.

10 If you falter in the time of trouble,

your strength is small.

11 Rescue those who are being led away to death!

Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

12 If 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?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,

the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;

14 so 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.

15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous.

Don’t destroy his resting place;

16 for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again,

but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls.

Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,

18 lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him,

and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers,

neither be envious of the wicked;

20 for there will be no reward to the evil man.

The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 My son, fear Yahweh and the king.

Don’t join those who are rebellious,

22 for their calamity will rise suddenly.

Who knows what destruction may come from them both?

23 These also are sayings of the wise:

To show partiality in judgment is not good.

24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous,"

peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—

25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,

and a rich blessing will come on them.

26 An honest answer

is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside,

and get your fields ready.

Afterwards, build your house.

28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause.

Don’t deceive with your lips.

29 Don’t say, "I will do to him as he has done to me;

I will repay the man according to his work."

30 I went by the field of the sluggard,

by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.

31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.

Its surface was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

32 Then I saw, and considered well.

I saw, and received instruction:

33 a little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to sleep,

34 so your poverty will come as a robber

and your want as an armed man.

1 Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;2 for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.3 Through wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established;4 and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.6 For with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.9 The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.10 {If} thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.11 Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.15 Lay not wait, O wicked {man}, against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;18 lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, {and} be not envious of the wicked:20 for there shall be no future to the evil {man}; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?23 These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;25 but to them that rebuke {him} shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.26 He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.27 Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to the man according to his work.30 I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;31 and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.32 Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:33 -A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!34 So shall thy poverty come {as} a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.