1 Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them.

2 For their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of mischief.

3 Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;

4 and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.

6 For by wise counsel you shall wage war; and in a multitude of counselors is safety.

7 Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the gate.

8 He who plots to do evil shall be called a master of evil plots.

9 The wicked devices of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 If you faint in the day of distress, your strength is small.

11 If you refrain from delivering those being led away to death, those about to die;

12 if you say, Behold, we did not know it; does not He who ponders the heart consider it? And the Keeper of your soul, does He not know it? And shall He not repay to a man according to his deeds?

13 My son, eat honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste.

14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your expectation shall not be cut off.

15 O wicked one, do not lie in wait at the dwelling of the righteous; do not assault his resting place;

16 for a just man may fall seven times, and rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into evil.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;

18 lest Jehovah see it, and it displease Him, and He turns away His wrath from him.

19 Do not fret yourself because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked;

20 for there shall not be a posterity to the evil; the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished.

21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king; and do not fellowship with those who are given to change;

22 for their disaster shall rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both?

23 These things also are to the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.

24 He who says to the wicked, You are righteous; the people will curse him and nations will abhor him.

25 But to those who rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 He shall kiss the lips that return right words.

27 Prepare your work outside, and make ready for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, nor deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his deeds.

30 I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man lacking heart;

31 and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.

32 Then I saw; I set my heart on it; I observed and received instruction.

33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest;

34 so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your want like an armed man.