1 B e not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;

2 F or their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

For their minds plot oppression and devise violence, and their lips talk of causing trouble and vexation.

3 T hrough wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established,

4 a nd by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

And by knowledge shall its chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power;

6 F or by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

For by wise counsel you can wage your war, and in an abundance of counselors there is victory and safety.

7 W isdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Wisdom is too high for a fool; he opens not his mouth in the gate.

8 H e that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

He who plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker.

9 T he thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

The plans of the foolish and the thought of foolishness are sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men.

10 I f thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

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

11 I f thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back.

12 i f thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

If you say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his works?

13 M y son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

14 s o shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

So shall you know skillful and godly Wisdom to be thus to your life; if you find it, then shall there be a future and a reward, and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.

15 L ay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous (the upright, in right standing with God); destroy not his resting-place;

16 f or a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17 R ejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown,

18 l est the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.

19 F ret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

Fret not because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked,

20 f or there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

For there shall be no reward for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

21 M y son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not associate with those who are given to change,

22 f or their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knows the punishment and ruin which both will bring upon ?

23 T hese things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

These also are sayings of the wise: To discriminate and show partiality, having respect of persons in judging, is not good.

24 H e that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

He who says to the wicked, You are righteous and innocent—peoples will curse him, nations will defy and abhor him.

25 b ut to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

But to those who rebuke the wicked, it will go well with them and they will find delight, and a good blessing will be upon them.

26 E very man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

He kisses the lips who give a right answer.

27 P repare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Prepare your work outside and get it ready for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house and establish a home.

28 B e not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and deceive not with your lips.

29 S ay not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for his deed.

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

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

And, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down.

32 T hen I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Then I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction.

33 Y et a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—

34 s o shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

So shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.