Proverbs

¹Do not envy evil people,do not desire to be with them; ²for their hearts contemplate violence,and their lips speak harm. ³By wisdom a house is built,and through understanding it is established; ⁴by knowledge its rooms are filledwith all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures. ⁵A wise warrior is strong,and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger; ⁶for with guidance you wage your war,and with numerous advisers there is victory. ⁷Wisdom is unattainable for a fool;in court he does not open his mouth. ⁸The one who plans to do evilwill be called a scheming person. ⁹A foolish scheme is sin,and the scorner is an abomination to people. ¹⁰If you faint in the day of trouble,your strength is small! ¹¹Deliver those being taken away to death,and hold back those slipping to the slaughter. ¹²If you say, “But we did not know about this,”does not the one who evaluates hearts consider?Does not the one who guards your life know?Will he not repay each person according to his deeds? ¹³Eat honey, my child, for it is good,and honey from the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. ¹⁴Likewise, know that wisdom is sweet to your soul;if you find it, you will have a future,and your hope will not be cut off. ¹⁵Do not lie in wait like the wicked against the place where the righteous live;do not assault his home. ¹⁶Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again,but the wicked will be brought down by calamity. ¹⁷Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice, ¹⁸lest the Lord see it, and be displeased,and turn his wrath away from him. ¹⁹Do not fret because of evil peopleor be envious of wicked people, ²⁰for the evil person has no future,and the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished. ²¹Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king,and do not associate with rebels, ²²for suddenly their destruction will overtake them,and who knows the ruinous judgment both the Lord and the king can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

²³These sayings also are from the wise:To show partiality in judgment is terrible: ²⁴The one who says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him. ²⁵But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty,and a pleasing blessing will come on them. ²⁶Like a kiss on the lipsis the one who gives an honest answer. ²⁷Establish your work outside and get your fields ready;afterward build your house. ²⁸Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,and do not deceive with your words. ²⁹Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;I will pay him back according to what he has done.” ³⁰I passed by the field of a sluggard,by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom. ³¹I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds,and its stone wall was broken down. ³²When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it;I received instruction from what I saw: ³³“A little sleep, a little slumber,a little folding of the hands to relax, ³⁴and your poverty will come like a bandit,and your need like an armed robber.”