¹ Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

² For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

³ Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:

⁴ And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

⁵ A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.¹²

1. is strong: Heb. is in strength
2. increaseth...: Heb. strengtheneth might

⁶ For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

⁷ Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

⁸ He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

⁹ The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

¹⁰ If thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.¹

1. small: Heb. narrow

¹¹ If thou refraineth to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;

¹² If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that weigheth the heart consider it ? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

¹³ My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:¹

1. to...: Heb. upon thy palate

¹⁴ So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

¹⁵ Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy not his resting place:

¹⁶ For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

¹⁷ Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:

¹⁸ Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.¹

1. it displeaseth...: Heb. it be evil in his eyes

¹⁹ Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;¹

1. Fret...: or, Keep not company with the wicked

²⁰ For there shall be no reward to the evil man ; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.¹

1. candle: or, lamp

²¹ My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:¹

1. them...: Heb. changers

²² For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

²³ These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

²⁴ He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

²⁵ But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.¹

1. a good...: Heb. a blessing of good

²⁶ Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.¹

1. that...: Heb. that answereth right words

²⁷ Prepare thy work outside, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.

²⁸ Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

²⁹ Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

³⁰ I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

³¹ And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.

³² Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.¹

1. considered...: Heb. set my heart

³³ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

³⁴ So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.¹

1. an...: Heb. a man of shield