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

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

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

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

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

¶ Through wisdom the house shall be built, and with intelligence it shall be 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 the chambers be filled with all precious and beautiful riches.

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

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

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

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 shall not open his mouth in the gate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¶ My son, eat of the honey, because it is good, and of the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy 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 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 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.

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

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.

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26 T o give the right answer is like a kiss on the lips.

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

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

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

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

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

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

¶ I went by the field of the slothful 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 had covered 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 saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it and received chastening.

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