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Precepts and Warnings

¹ Do not be ^(C1)envious of evil men,
Nor desire to ^(C2)be with them;

² For their minds plot ^(C1)violence,
And their lips ^(C2)talk of trouble for the innocent.

^3 (C1)Through skillful and godly wisdom a house a life, a home, a family is built,
And by understanding it is established on a sound and good foundation,

⁴ And by knowledge its rooms are ^(C1)filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.

⁵ A ^(C1)wise man is strong,
And a man of knowledge strengthens his power; ^(VR1)

⁶ For ^(C1)by wise guidance you can wage your war,
And ^(C2)in an abundance of wise counselors there is victory and safety.

⁷ Wisdom is ^(C1)too exalted for a hardened, arrogant ^(F1)fool;
He does not open his mouth ^(C2)in the gate where the city's rulers sit in judgment.

⁸ He who ^(C1)plans to do evil
Will be called a schemer or deviser of evil.

⁹ The ^(C1)devising of folly is sin,
And the scoffer is repulsive to men.

¹⁰ If you ^(C1)are slack (careless) in the day of distress,
Your strength is limited.

^11 (C1)Rescue those who are being taken away to death,
And those who stagger to the slaughter, Oh hold them back from their doom!

¹² If you claim ignorance and say, "See, we did not know this,"
Does He not ^(C1)consider it ^(C2)who weighs and examines the hearts and their motives?
And ^(C3)does He not know it who ^(C4)guards your life and keeps your soul?
And will He not ^(C5)repay you and every man according to his works?

¹³ My son, eat ^(C1)honey, because it is good,
And the ^(C2)drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

¹⁴ Know that skillful and godly ^(C1)wisdom is so very good for your life and soul;
If you find wisdom, then there will be a ^(C2)future and a reward,
And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.

^15 (C1)Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not destroy his resting place;

¹⁶ For a ^(C1)righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the ^(C2)wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse. ^(VR1)

¹⁷ Do not ^(C1)rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad in self-righteousness when he stumbles,

¹⁸ Or the LORD will see your gloating and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from your enemy.

¹⁹ Do not ^(C1)get upset because of evildoers,
Or be ^(C2)envious of the wicked,

²⁰ For ^(C1)there will be no ^(C2)future for the evil man;
The ^(C3)lamp of the wicked will be put out.

²¹ My son, ^(C1)fear the LORD and the king;
And do not associate with those who are given to change of allegiance, and are revolutionary,

²² For their ^(C1)tragedy will rise suddenly,
And who knows the punishment that both the LORD and the king will bring on the rebellious?

²³ These also are ^(C1)sayings of the wise:
To ^(C2)show partiality in judgment is not good.

²⁴ He ^(C1)who says to the wicked, "You are righteous,"
^(C2)Peoples will curse him, nations will denounce him;

²⁵ But ^(C1)to those honorable judges who rebuke the wicked, it will go well with them and they will find delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.

²⁶ He kisses the lips and wins the hearts of people
Who gives a right and straightforward answer.

²⁷ Prepare your work outside
And ^(C1)get it ready for yourself in the field;
^(F1)Afterward build your house and establish a home.

²⁸ Do not be a ^(C1)witness against your ^(F1)neighbor without cause,
And do not ^(C2)deceive with your lips speak neither lies nor half-truths. ^(VR1)

²⁹ Do not ^(C1)say, "I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for his deed." ^(VR1)

³⁰ I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man ^(C1)lacking understanding and common sense;

³¹ And, behold, it was all ^(C1)overgrown with thorns,
And ^(C2)nettles were covering its surface,
And its stone ^(C3)wall was broken down.

³² When I saw, I considered it well;
I looked and received instruction.

³³ "Yet ^(C1)a little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest and daydream,"

³⁴ Then your poverty will come as a robber,
And your want like an armed man.