1Do not be envious of evil men; Nor desire to be with them:
2For their heart studies oppression, And their lips talk of harm.
3Through wisdom a house is built; And by understanding it is established;
4And by knowledge the chambers are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is strong; Yes, a man of knowledge increases might.
6For by wise guidance you shall make your war; And in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8He who devises to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker.
9The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.
11Deliver those who are carried away to death, And those who are ready to be slain see that you hold back.
12If you say, Behold, we did not know this; Does not he who weighs the hearts consider it? And he who keeps your soul, does he not know it? And shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13My son, eat honey, for it is good; And the drippings 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 shall be a reward, And your hope shall not be cut off.
15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting-place:
16For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18Lest Yehovah see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.
19Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; Nor be envious of the wicked:
20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21My son, fear Yehovah and the king; And do not associate with those who are given to change:
22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knows it?
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, nations shall abhor him;
25But to those who rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.
26He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.
27Prepare your work outside, And make it ready for you in the field; And afterward build your house.
28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause; And do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, I will do so 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, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31And, look, it was all grown over with thorns, Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.
32Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:
33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;
34So your poverty shall come as a robber, And your want as an armed man.