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¹ Don’t envy the evil^(C1)2 for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble.^(C1)

³ A house is built by wisdom,^(C1)
and it is established by understanding;⁴ by knowledge the rooms are filled
with every precious and beautiful treasure.

⁵ A wise warrior is better than a strong one,^(F1)
and a man of knowledge than one of strength;^(F2)(C1)6 for you should wage war with sound guidance—
victory comes with many counselors.^(C1)

⁷ Wisdom is inaccessible to^(F1) a fool;^(C1)
he does not open his mouth at the city gate.^(C2)

⁸ The one who plots evil^(C1)
will be called a schemer.⁹ A foolish scheme is sin,
and a mocker is detestable to people.

¹⁰ If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.¹¹ Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.^(C1)12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t he who weighs hearts^(C1) consider it?
Won’t he who protects your life^(C2) know?
Won’t he repay a person according to his work?^(C3)

¹³ Eat honey,^(C1) my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;^(C2)14 realize that wisdom is the same for you.^(C1)
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade.^(C2)

¹⁵ Don’t set an ambush, you wicked one,
at the camp of the righteous man;^(C1)
don’t destroy his dwelling.¹⁶ Though a righteous person falls seven times,
he will get up,^(C1)
but the wicked will stumble into ruin.^(C2)

¹⁷ Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,^(C1)18 or the Lord will see, be displeased,
and turn his wrath away from him.

¹⁹ Don’t be agitated by evildoers,
and don’t envy the wicked.^(C1)20 For the evil have no future;^(C1)
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.^(C2)

²¹ My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,^(C1)
and don’t associate with rebels,^(F1)22 for destruction will come suddenly from them;
who knows what distress these two can bring?

²³ These sayings also belong to the wise:^(C1)
It is not good to show partiality in judgment.^(C2)24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”^(C1)—
peoples will curse him,^(C2) and nations will denounce him;²⁵ but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a generous blessing will come to them.

²⁶ He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.

²⁷ Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;^(C1)
afterward, build your house.

²⁸ Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause.^(C1)
Don’t deceive with your lips.²⁹ Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me;
I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”^(C1)

³⁰ I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.³¹ Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground,^(C1)
and the stone wall was ruined.³² I saw, and took it to heart;
I looked, and received instruction:³³ a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,³⁴ and your poverty will come like a robber,
and your need, like a bandit.^(C1)