Proverbs

1Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:

2Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.

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

4By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.

5A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.

6Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.

7Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.

8He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.

9The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.

10If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.

11Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.

12If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.

13Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:

14So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.

15Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.

16For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.

17When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:

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

19Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:

20For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

21My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.

22For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?

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

24They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.

25They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.

26He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.

27Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.

28Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.

29Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.

30I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:

31And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.

32Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.

33Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:

34And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.

Saying 20

1Do not envy wicked menor desire their company;

2for their hearts devise violence,and their lips declare trouble.

Saying 21

3By wisdom a house is builtand by understanding it is established;

4through knowledge its rooms are filledwith every precious and beautiful treasure.

Saying 22

5A wise man is strong,and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.

6Only with sound guidance should you wage war,and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

Saying 23

7Wisdom is too high for a fool;he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.

Saying 24

8He who plots evilwill be called a schemer.

9A foolish scheme is sin,and a mocker is detestable to men.

Saying 25

10If you faint in the day of distress,how small is your strength!

11Rescue those being led away to death,and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,”does not He who weighs hearts consider it?Does not the One who guards your life know?Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Saying 26

13Eat honey, my son, for it is good,and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

14Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul.If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

Saying 27

15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous;do not destroy his resting place.

16For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up;but the wicked stumble in bad times.

Saying 28

17Do not gloat when your enemy falls,and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

18or the LORD will see and disapprove,and turn His wrath away from him.

Saying 29

19Do not fret over evildoers,and do not be envious of the wicked.

20For the evil man has no future;the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Saying 30

21My son, fear the LORD and the king,and do not associate with the rebellious.

22For they will bring sudden destruction.Who knows what ruin they can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

23These also are sayings of the wise:To show partiality in judgmentis not good.

24Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,and rich blessing will come upon them.

26An honest answer givenis like a kiss on the lips.

27Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field;after that, you may build your house.

28Do not testify against your neighbor 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 repay the man according to his work.”

30I went past the field of a slackerand by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.

31Thorns had grown up everywhere,thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.

32I observed and took it to heart;I looked and received instruction:

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

34and poverty will come upon you like a robber,and need like a bandit.