1 B e not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;

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

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

4 a nd 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 F or with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

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

8 H e that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.

9 T he purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 t hou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.

11 D eliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.

12 I f 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 E at honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:

14 s o consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

15 L ay not wait, O wicked, against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.

16 F or the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.

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

18 l est Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.

19 F ret not thyself because of evil-doers, be not envious of the wicked:

20 f or there shall be no future to the evil; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

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

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

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

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

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

26 H e kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.

27 P repare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.

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

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

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

32 T hen 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 S o shall thy poverty come a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.