-
1Don’t be envious of evil men;
- neither desire to be with them:
-
2for their hearts plot violence,
- and their lips talk about mischief.
-
3Through wisdom a house is built;
- by understanding it is established;
-
4by knowledge the rooms are filled
- with all rare and beautiful treasure.
-
5A wise man has great power;
- and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
-
6for by wise guidance you wage your war;
- and victory is in many advisors.
-
7Wisdom is too high for a fool:
- he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
-
8One who plots to do evil
- will be called a schemer.
-
9The schemes of folly are sin.
- The mocker is detested by men.
-
10If you falter in the time of trouble,
- your strength is small.
-
11Rescue those who are being led away to death!
- Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
-
12If 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?
-
13My son, eat honey, for it is good;
- the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
-
14so 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.
-
15Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous.
- Don’t destroy his resting place:
-
16for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again;
- but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
-
17Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls.
- Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
-
18lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him,
- and he turn away his wrath from him.
-
19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers;
- neither be envious of the wicked:
-
20for there will be no reward to the evil man;
- and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
-
21My son, fear Yahweh and the king.
- Don’t join those who are rebellious:
-
22for their calamity will rise suddenly;
- the destruction from them both—who knows?
23These also are sayings of the wise.
- To show partiality in judgment is not good.
-
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous;”
- peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
-
25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
- and a rich blessing will come on them.
-
26An honest answer
- is like a kiss on the lips.
-
27Prepare your work outside,
- and get your fields ready.
- Afterwards, build your house.
-
28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause.
- Don’t deceive with your lips.
-
29Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
- I will render to the man according to his work.”
-
30I went by the field of the sluggard,
- by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
-
31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.
- Its surface was covered with nettles,
- and its stone wall was broken down.
-
32Then I saw, and considered well.
- I saw, and received instruction:
-
33a little sleep, a little slumber,
- a little folding of the hands to sleep;
-
34so your poverty will come as a robber,
- and your want as an armed man.