1 D on’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:

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

2 f or their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.

For their hearts make plans to hurt others and their lips talk about trouble.

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

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

4 b y knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

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

5 A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;

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

6 f or by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.

For by wise leading you will make war, and the fight is won when there are many wise men to help you make the plans.

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

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

8 O ne who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.

He who plans to do wrong will be called a trouble maker.

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

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

10 I f you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

If you are weak in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

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

Save those who are being taken away to death. Keep them from being killed.

12 I f 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?

If 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?

13 M y son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:

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

14 s o 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.

Know 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.

15 D on’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place:

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.

16 f or a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

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

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

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

18 l est Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

The Lord will see it and will not be pleased, and He will turn away His anger from him.

19 D on’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:

Do not worry yourself because of those who do wrong, and do not be jealous of the sinful.

20 f or there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.

For there will be no future for the sinful man. The lamp of the sinful will be put out.

21 M y son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:

My son, fear the Lord and the king. Have nothing to do with those who are given to change.

22 f or their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?

For their trouble will rise up all at once, and who knows how much both of them will destroy?

23 T hese also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

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

24 H e who says to the wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—

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

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

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

26 A n honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

To give the right answer is like a kiss on the lips.

27 P repare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

Get your work done outside. Make your fields ready. Then after that, build your house.

28 D on’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.

Do not speak against your neighbor without a reason, and do not lie with your lips.

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

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

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

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

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

And see, it was all grown over with thorns. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.

32 T hen I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

When I saw it, I thought about it. I looked and received teaching.

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

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

34 s o your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.

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