1 Do not be jealous of evil men, and do not long to be in their company;
2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips speak of mischief.
3 A house is built through wisdom and made firm through understanding;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and pleasing treasure.
5 A wise man is mighty, and a man of knowledge adds to his strength;
6 for with wise guidance you will wage your war, and with plenty of counselors comes victory.
7 Wisdom is out of a fool's reach; at the gate he keeps his mouth shut.
8 One who schemes to do evil will be known as a mastermind of mischief.
9 The plotting of folly is sin, and men detest a scoffer.
10 If you lose heart in the day of trouble, your strength is slight.
11 Rescue those who are being dragged off to death; hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
12 If you say, "But we knew nothing of this," does not he who weighs hearts perceive it? Does not he who guards your soul know it? Will he not repay each man as his deeds deserve?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is like this for your soul; if you find it, there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in ambush, wicked man, by the home of the righteous; do not raid his dwelling place;
16 for the righteous may fall seven times, yet he gets up again, but the wicked are brought down by trouble.
17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 or the LORD will see and be displeased, and turn his anger away from him.
19 Do not be upset because of evildoers, and do not be jealous of the wicked;
20 for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will go out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not get involved with those who are given to change;
22 for their disaster will spring up suddenly, and who knows the ruin both of them can bring?
23 These too are sayings of the wise. It is not good to show favoritism in judging.
24 Whoever tells the guilty, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations;
25 but it will go well with those who convict him, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 One who gives an honest reply kisses the lips.
27 Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without reason, and do not mislead with your lips.
29 Do not say, "I will treat him as he treated me; I will pay the man back for what he did."
30 I went past the field of a lazy man, past the vineyard of a man with no sense,
31 and look, it was all overgrown with thistles; weeds covered the ground, and its stone wall lay in ruins.
32 I observed it and took it to heart; I looked and learned a lesson:
33 a bit of sleep, a bit of slumber, a bit of folding the hands to lie down,
34 and poverty will come on you like a prowler, and need like a man with a shield.