¹ Do not envy men of evil, and do not desire to be with them.

² For their minds will devise violence, and their lips will speak mischief.

³ By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.

⁴ And by knowledge, rooms are filled with all riches, precious and pleasant.

⁵ The warrior of wisdom is in strength, and a man of knowledge is strong in power.

⁶ For with wise guidance you shall make war for yourself, and victory is in an abundance of counsel.

⁷ Wisdom is too high for fools; at the gate he will not open his mouth.

⁸ He who plans to do evil for¹ himself, they will call him “master² of mischief.”

1. Or “to”
2. Or “owner”

⁹ Devising folly is a sin, and an abomination to humankind is a scoffer.

¹⁰ If you faint on the day of adversity, little is your strength.

¹¹ Rescue those who are led away to the death and those who stagger to the slaughter. If you hold back,

¹² if you say, “Look, we do not know this,” does not he who weighs hearts perceive it? And he who keeps your soul,¹ he knows and will repay humankind according to his deeds.

1. Or “life,” or “inner self”

¹³ My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the dripping of the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

¹⁴ Thus know wisdom for the sake of your soul,¹ if you find it, then there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

1. Or “life,” or “inner self”

¹⁵ Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous; do not do violence to his dwelling place.

¹⁶ For seven times the righteous will fall, but he will rise, but the wicked will be overthrown by calamity.

¹⁷ While your enemies are falling, do not rejoice; when he trips himself, may your heart¹ not be glad

1. Or “mind”

¹⁸ lest Yahweh see and it be evil in his eyes, and turn his anger away from him.

¹⁹ Do not fret because of the evildoers; do not envy the wicked.

²⁰ For there will not be a future for the evil; the lamp of the wicked will die out.

²¹ Fear Yahweh, my son, and the king; with those who change, do not associate.

²² For suddenly their disaster will come, and the ruin of ⌞both of them⌟,¹ who knows?

1. Literally “the two of them”

²³ These sayings are also for the wise: ⌞Partiality⌟¹ in judgment is not good.

1. Literally “acknowledge faces”

²⁴ Whoever says to the guilty, “You are righteous,” the people will curse him; the nations will abhor him.

²⁵ But they who rebuke will have delight, and upon them blessings of goodness will come.

²⁶ He will kiss the lips, he who gives an honest answer.

²⁷ Prepare your work in the street and get it ready for yourself in the field; afterward, then¹ you shall build your house.

1. Hebrew “and”

²⁸ Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor nor deceive with your lips.

²⁹ Do not say, “Just as he has done to me, so shall I do to him; I will pay back the man according to his deed.”

³⁰ I passed by the field of a lazy person, and over the vineyard of a person lacking ⌞sense⌟;¹

1. Literally “heart”

³¹ and behold, it was overgrown—all of it was covered with thorns, its surface with nettles, and ⌞its stone wall⌟¹ was broken down.

1. Literally “a wall of his/its stones”

³² Then I myself saw and my heart¹ considered; I looked, and I took hold of instruction:

1. Or “mind”

³³ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands for rest,

³⁴ and your poverty will come running, and your lack like an armed warrior.