1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man {is} strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. {is strong: Heb. is in strength} {increaseth...: Heb. strengtheneth might}
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors {there is} safety.
7 Wisdom {is} too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The thought of foolishness {is} sin: and the scorner {is} an abomination to men.
10 {If} thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength {is} small. {small: Heb. narrow}
11 If thou forbear to deliver {them that are} drawn unto death, and {those that are} ready to be slain;
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider {it}? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth {not} he know {it}? and shall {not} he render to {every} man according to his works?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because {it is} good; and the honeycomb, {which is} sweet to thy taste: {to...: Heb. upon thy palate}
14 So {shall} the knowledge of wisdom {be} unto thy soul: when thou hast found {it}, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked {man}, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 For a just {man} falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the LORD see {it}, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. {it displeaseth...: Heb. it be evil in his eyes}
19 Fret not thyself because of evil {men}, neither be thou envious at the wicked; {Fret...: or, Keep not company with the wicked}
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil {man}; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. {candle: or, lamp}
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: {and} meddle not with them that are given to change: {them...: Heb. changers}
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These {things} also {belong} to the wise. {It is} not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou {art} righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 But to them that rebuke {him} shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. {a good...: Heb. a blessing of good}
26 {Every man} shall kiss {his} lips that giveth a right answer. {that...: Heb. that answereth right words}
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive {not} with thy lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, {and} nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, {and} considered {it} well: I looked upon {it, and} received instruction. {considered...: Heb. set my heart}
33 {Yet} a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come {as} one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. {an...: Heb. a man of shield}