1Do not envy evil men. Do not wish to be with them.
2For their hearts plan destruction, and their lips talk of trouble.
3A house is built by wisdom, and it is made firm by understanding.
4By knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is strong; a man of knowledge grows stronger still.
6For with wise advice you should wage your war, and where there are many counsellors there is safety.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool. He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8Whoever plans to do evil will be called a maker of trouble.
9The planning of foolishness is sin, and the one who mocks is hated by people.
10If you give up on the day of trouble, your strength is small.
11Rescue those who are being led away to death, and hold back those who stagger toward being killed.
12If you say, "Look, we did not know this," does not the one who weighs the heart see it? Does not the one who guards your soul know it? And will he not give back to every man according to what he has done?
13My son, eat honey, because it is good; eat the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste.
14The knowledge of wisdom will be like that to your soul. When you have found it, there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.
15Wicked man, do not lie in wait against the home of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.
16For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again, but the wicked will fall into trouble.
17Do not be glad when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles.
18Or the LORD will see it, and it will displease him, and he will turn his anger away from him.
19Do not be upset because of evil men, and do not envy the wicked.
20For the evil man will have no reward. The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21My son, fear the LORD and the king. Do not join with those who love change.
22For their disaster will rise up suddenly, and who knows the ruin that comes from them both?
23These sayings also belong to the wise. It is not good to show favour to one side when judging.
24Whoever says to the wicked, "You are righteous," will be cursed by the people, and nations will hate him.
25But those who rebuke him will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.
26Everyone will kiss the lips of the one who gives a right answer.
27Get your work ready outside, and make it fit for yourself in the field. Afterwards build your house.
28Do not be a witness against your neighbour without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me. I will pay the man back for what he did."
30I went past the field of the lazy man, and past the vineyard of the man with no understanding.
31Look, it was all overgrown with thorns, and nettles covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.
32Then I looked, and thought it over well. I looked at it, and I learned a lesson.
33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -
34so your poverty will come like a traveller, and your need like an armed man.