Proverbs

1Don’t be envious of evil men,neither desire to be with them;

2for their hearts plot violenceand their lips talk about mischief.

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

4by knowledge the rooms are filledwith all rare and beautiful treasure.

5A wise man has great power.A knowledgeable man increases strength,

6for by wise guidance you wage your war,and victory is in many advisors.

7Wisdom is too high for a fool.He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

8One who plots to do evilwill be called a schemer.

9The schemes of folly are sin.The mocker is detested by men.

10If you falter in the time of trouble,your strength is small.

11Rescue those who are being led away to death!Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

12If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,”doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it?He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it?Shall he not give to every man according to his work?

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

14so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul.If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.

15Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous.Don’t destroy his resting place;

16for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again,but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls.Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,

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

19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers,neither be envious of the wicked;

20for there will be no reward to the evil man.The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21My son, fear the LORD and the king.Don’t join those who are rebellious,

22for their calamity will rise suddenly.Who knows what destruction may come from them both?

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

24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—

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

26An honest answeris like a kiss on the lips.

27Prepare your work outside,and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

28Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause.Don’t deceive with your lips.

29Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;I will repay the man according to his work.”

30I went by the field of the sluggard,by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.

31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

32Then I saw, and considered well.I saw, and received instruction:

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

34so your poverty will come as a robberand your want 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.