Do not envy evil men

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Justice1Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;

SpeechJustice2for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.

Wisdom3By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;

WisdomWealth4through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Wisdom5The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.

WisdomLeadership6Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.

Wisdom7Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

Justice8Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer.

Wisdom9The schemes of folly are sin, and people detest a mocker.

Rescue those being led to death

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Work10If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!

Justice11Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

Fear of LordJustice12If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Wisdom13Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Wisdom14Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

The righteous falls seven times and rises

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Justice15Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place;

Justice16for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

JusticeAnger17Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,

Fear of Lord18or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

Justice19Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked,

Justice20for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Fear of LordLeadership21Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,

Fear of LordLeadership22for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?

More sayings of the wise

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Justice23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good:

Justice24Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.

Justice25But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.

Speech26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Work27Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

SpeechJustice28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause— would you use your lips to mislead?

JusticeAnger29Do not say, “I`ll do to them as they have done to me; I`ll pay them back for what they did.”

Lesson from the sluggard's field

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Work30I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;

Work31thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.

WisdomDiscipline32I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:

Work33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—

WorkWealth34and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

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