¹ Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.

² For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.

³ By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.

⁴ By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.

⁵ A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.

⁶ For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.

⁷ Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.

⁸ Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.

⁹ The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.

¹⁰ If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.

¹¹ Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.

¹² If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.

¹³ My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.¹

1. 24:13The superlative does not always mean the one that is above all others. It often is merely a way to emphasize a particular quality, e.g. not ‘the sweetest,’ but rather ‘so sweet’ or ‘very sweet’.(Conte)

¹⁴ So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.

¹⁵ Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.

¹⁶ For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.

¹⁷ When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,

¹⁸ lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.

¹⁹ Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.

²⁰ For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.

²¹ My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.

²² For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?

²³ Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.

²⁴ Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.

²⁵ Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.

²⁶ He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.

²⁷ Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.

²⁸ Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.

²⁹ Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.

³⁰ I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,

³¹ and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.

³² When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.

³³ You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.

³⁴ And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”