1 Precepts and Warnings Do not be envious of evil men,Nor desire to be with them;
2 For their minds plot violence,And their lips talk of trouble [for the innocent].
3 Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built,And by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],
4 And by knowledge its rooms are filledWith all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong,And a man of knowledge strengthens his power;
6 For by wise guidance you can wage your war,And in an abundance of [wise] counselors there is victoryandsafety.
7 Wisdom is too exalted for a [hardened, arrogant]See note 1:7.fool;He does not open his mouth in the gate [where the city’s rulers sit in judgment].
8 He who plans to do evilWill be called a schemerordeviser of evil.
9 The devising of folly is sin,And the scoffer is repulsive to men.
10 If you are slack (careless) in the day of distress,Your strength is limited.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death,And those who stagger to the slaughter, Oh hold them back [from their doom]!
12 If you [claim ignorance and] say, “See, we did not know this,”Does He not consider it who weighsandexamines the heartsandtheir motives?And does He not know it who guards your lifeandkeeps your soul?And will He not repay [you and] every man according to his works?
13 My son, eat honey, because it is good,And the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that [skillful and godly] wisdom is [so very good] for your lifeandsoul;If you find wisdom, then there will be a futureanda reward,And your hopeandexpectation will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;Do not destroy his resting place;
16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,But the wicked stumble intime ofdisasterandcollapse.
17 Do not rejoiceandgloat when your enemy falls,And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles,
18 Or the Lwill see your gloating and be displeased,And turn His anger away from your enemy.
19 Do not get upset because of evildoers,Or be envious of the wicked,
20 For there will be no future for the evil man;The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the Land the king;And do not associate with those who are given to change [of allegiance, and are revolutionary],
22 For their tragedy will rise suddenly,And who knows the punishment that both [the Land the king] will bring on the rebellious?
23 These also are sayings of the wise:To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”Peoples will curse him, nations will denounce him;
25 But to those [honorable judges] who rebuke thewicked,it will go well with themandthey will find delight,And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 He kisses the lips [and wins the hearts of people]Who gives a rightandstraightforward answer.
27 Prepare your work outsideAnd get it ready for yourself in the field;Establishing your priorities and proceeding in an orderly manner brings its own reward.Afterward build your houseandestablish a home.
28 Do not be a witness against yourI.e. anyone who comes into your life, not necessarily one who lives nearby.neighbor without cause,And do not deceive with your lips [speak neither lies nor half-truths].
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;I will pay the man back for his deed.”
30 I went by the field of the lazy man,And by the vineyard of the man lacking understandingandcommon sense;
31 And, behold, it was all overgrown with thorns,And nettles were covering its surface,And its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw, I considered it well;I looked and received instruction.
33 “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to rest [and daydream],”
34 Then your poverty will come as a robber,And your want like an armed man.