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

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

2 F or their hearts make plans to hurt others and their lips talk about trouble.

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

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

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

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

5 A wise man is strong. A man of much learning adds to his 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 leading you will make war, and the fight is won when there are many wise men to help you make the plans.

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

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

8 H e who plans to do wrong will be called a trouble maker.

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

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

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

10 I f you are weak in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

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

11 S ave those who are being taken away to death. Keep them from being killed.

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

12 I f 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?

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

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

14 K now 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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

18 T he Lord will see it and will not be pleased, and He will turn away His anger 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 D o not worry yourself because of those who do wrong, and do not be jealous of the sinful.

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

20 F or there will be no future for the sinful man. The lamp of the sinful will 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 the Lord and the king. Have nothing to do with those who 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 trouble will rise up all at once, and who knows how much both of them will destroy?

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

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

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

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

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

25 B ut those who speak strong words to the sinful will find joy and good will 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 T o give the right answer is like a kiss on the lips.

He kisses the lips who give a right answer.

27 G et your work done outside. Make your fields ready. Then after that, build your house.

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

28 D o not speak against your neighbor without a reason, and do not lie with your lips.

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

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

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

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

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

31 A nd see, it was all grown over with thorns. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall 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 W hen I saw it, I thought about it. I looked and received teaching.

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

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

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

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

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