1 Don't be envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:

2 For their heart studies oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.

3 Through wisdom is a house built; And by understanding it is established;

4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise [noble] man is strong; Yes, a man of knowledge increases might

6 For by wise guidance you will make your war; And in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: He does not open his mouth in the gate.

8 He who devises to do evil, Men will call him a mischief-maker.

9 The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is disgusting to man.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.

11 Deliver those who are carried away to death, And see that you hold back those who are ready to be slain.

12 If you say, Look, 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 will he not render to man according to his work?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good; And the drippings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:

14 So you will know wisdom to be to your soul; If you have found it, then there will be a reward, And your hope will not be cut off.

15 Don't lay in wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; Don't destroy his resting-place:

16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17 Don't rejoice when your enemy falls, And don't let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;

18 Or else Yahweh will see it, and it will be evil in his eyes, And he will turn away his wrath from him.

19 Don't fret yourself because of evildoers; Neither be envious at the wicked:

20 For there will be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear Yahweh and the king; [And] don't company with those who are given to change:

22 For their calamity will rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knows it?

23 These also are [words] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.

24 He who says to the wicked, You are righteous; Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him:

25 But to those who rebuke [him] will be delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.

26 He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.

27 Prepare your work outside, And make it ready for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.

28 Don't be a witness against your fellow man without cause; And do not deceive with your lips.

29 Don't say, I will do so to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of [the] man void of understanding;

31 And, look, it was all grown over with thorns, The face of it was covered with nettles, And the stone wall of it was broken down.

32 Then I looked, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:

33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;

34 So will your poverty come as a robber, And your want as an armed man.