1 B e not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;

Do not be jealous of sinful men. Do not want to be with them.

2 F or their minds plot oppression and devise violence, and their lips talk of causing trouble and vexation.

For their hearts make plans to hurt others and their lips talk about trouble.

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

A house is built by wisdom. It is made strong by understanding,

4 A nd by knowledge shall its chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

and by much learning the rooms are filled with all riches that are pleasing and of great worth.

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

A wise man is strong. A man of much learning adds to his strength.

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

For by wise leading you will make war, and the fight is won when there are many wise men to help you make the plans.

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

Wisdom is too hard for a fool to understand. He does not open his mouth in the gate.

8 H e who plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker.

He who plans to do wrong will be called a trouble maker.

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

Planning to do foolish things is sin, and the man who laughs at the truth is hated by men.

10 I f you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

If you are weak in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

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

Save those who are being taken away to death. Keep them from being killed.

12 I f 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?

If you say, “See, we did not know this,” does not He Who knows what is in hearts see it? Does not He Who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will He not pay each man for his work?

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

My son, eat honey, for it is good. Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 S o 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.

Know that wisdom is like this to your soul. If you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

15 L ie 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;

O sinful man, do not lie in wait against the house of the man who is right with God. Do not destroy his resting place.

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

For a man who is right with God falls seven times, and rises again, but the sinful fall in time of trouble.

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

Do not be full of joy when the one who hates you falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he trips.

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

The Lord will see it and will not be pleased, and He will turn away His anger from him.

19 F ret not because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked,

Do not worry yourself because of those who do wrong, and do not be jealous of the sinful.

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

For there will be no future for the sinful man. The lamp of the sinful will be put out.

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

My son, fear the Lord and the king. Have nothing to do with those who are given to change.

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

For their trouble will rise up all at once, and who knows how much both of them will destroy?

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

These also are sayings of the wise. It is not good to show favor in judging.

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

He who says to the sinful, “You are right and good,” will be spoken against by people and hated by nations.

25 B ut 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.

But those who speak strong words to the sinful will find joy and good will come upon them.

26 H e kisses the lips who give a right answer.

To give the right answer is like a kiss on the lips.

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

Get your work done outside. Make your fields ready. Then after that, build your house.

28 B e not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and deceive not with your lips.

Do not speak against your neighbor without a reason, and do not lie with your lips.

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

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me. I will pay the man for what he has done.”

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

I passed by the field of the lazy man, by the grape-vines of the man without understanding.

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

And see, it was all grown over with thorns. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.

32 T hen I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction.

When I saw it, I thought about it. I looked and received teaching.

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

“A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands to rest,”

34 S o shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.

and your being poor will come as a robber, and your need like a man ready to fight.