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

¶ Do not be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.

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

For their heart studies robbery, and their lips speak evil.

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

¶ Through wisdom the house shall be built, and with intelligence it shall be established:

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

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and beautiful riches.

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

The wise man is strong; and the man of understanding is a mighty man of valour.

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

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war, and in the multitude of counsellors there is saving health.

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 shall not open his mouth in the gate.

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

He that devises to do evil shall be called a man of evil designs.

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

The thought of the foolish is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.

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

¶ If thou art slack in the day of tribulation, thy strength shall be reduced.

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

¶ If thou forbear to deliver those that are drawn unto death and those that are ready to be slain,

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 thou should say, Behold, we knew it not; shall not he that weighs the hearts understand it? and he that keeps thy soul, does he not know it? and shall he not 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 of the honey, because it is good, and of the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy 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 the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: if thou shalt find it, and in the end thy hope shall not be cut off.

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

¶ Do not lay in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not spoil 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 just man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked shall fall into evil.

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

¶ Do not rejoice when thy enemy falls, and do not let thy heart be glad when he stumbles

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 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:

¶ Do not meddle with those who are evil, 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 the evil man shall not come to a good end; the fire 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 meddle with those that 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 the ruin of them both, who shall know it?

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

¶ These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

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

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the peoples curse, nations shall abhor him:

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

But unto those that rebuke him shall be delight, and a blessing of good shall come upon them.

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

The lips of the one that gives a right answer shall be kissed.

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

¶ Prepare thy work without and make it fit for thyself in thine inheritance, and afterwards thou shalt build thine house.

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

¶ Do not be a false witness against thy neighbour, and do not flatter 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.

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

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 slothful 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 had covered 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 saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it and received chastening.

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 thy poverty come as one that travels and thy want as an armed man.