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

Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire 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 plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.

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

Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;

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

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

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 has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases 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 guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.

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

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

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

One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.

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

The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

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

If you falter in the time 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.

Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

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, “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 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; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are 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.

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 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;

Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t 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 righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

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

Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;

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.

lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

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

Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:

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 reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed 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 Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:

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

for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?

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. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

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 wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—

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 it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.

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

An honest 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.

Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

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

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

Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”

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

I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of 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.

Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

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

Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

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

a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;

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

so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.