Read the Bible

-19-

¹ Don't be envious of evil people, and don't try to make friends with them. ² Causing trouble is all they ever think about; every time they open their mouth someone is going to be hurt.

-20-

³ Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding.^{[a] 4} Where there is knowledge, the rooms are furnished with valuable, beautiful things.

-21-

⁵ Being wise is better than being strong;^[b] yes, knowledge is more important than strength. ⁶ After all, you must make careful plans before you fight a battle, and the more good advice you get, the more likely you are to win.

-22-

⁷ Wise sayings are too deep for stupid people to understand. They have nothing to say when important matters are being discussed.

-23-

⁸ If you are always planning evil, you will earn a reputation as a troublemaker. ⁹ Any scheme a fool thinks up is sinful. People hate a person who has nothing but scorn for others.

-24-

¹⁰ If you are weak in a crisis, you are weak indeed.

-25-

¹¹ Don't hesitate to rescue someone who is about to be executed unjustly. ¹² You may say that it is none of your business, but God knows and judges your motives. He keeps watch on you; he knows. And he will reward you according to what you do.

-26-

¹³ My child, eat honey; it is good. And just as honey from the comb is sweet on your tongue, ¹⁴ you may be sure that wisdom is good for the soul. Get wisdom and you have a bright future.

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¹⁵ Don't be like the wicked who scheme to rob honest people or to take away their homes. ¹⁶ No matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again; but disaster destroys the wicked.

-28-

¹⁷ Don't be glad when your enemies meet disaster, and don't rejoice when they stumble. ¹⁸ The Lord will know if you are gloating, and he will not like it; and then maybe he won't punish them.

-29-

¹⁹ Don't let evil people worry you; don't be envious of them. ²⁰ A wicked person has no future—nothing to look forward to.

-30-

²¹ Have reverence for the Lord, my child, and honor the king. Have nothing to do with people who rebel against them; ²² such people could be ruined in a moment. Do you realize the disaster that God or the king can cause?

More Wise Sayings

²³ The wise have also said these things:

It is wrong for judges to be prejudiced. ²⁴ If they pronounce a guilty person innocent, they will be cursed and hated by everyone. ²⁵ Judges who punish the guilty, however, will be prosperous and enjoy a good reputation.

²⁶ An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.

²⁷ Don't build your house and establish a home until your fields are ready, and you are sure that you can earn a living.

²⁸ Don't give evidence against others without good reason, or say misleading things about them. ²⁹ Don't say, "I'll do to them just what they did to me! I'll get even with them!"

³⁰ I walked through the fields and vineyards of a lazy, stupid person. ³¹ They were full of thorn bushes and overgrown with weeds. The stone wall around them had fallen down. ³² I looked at this, thought about it, and learned a lesson from it: ^33 (a)Go ahead and take your nap; go ahead and sleep. Fold your hands and rest awhile, ³⁴ but while you are asleep, poverty will attack you like an armed robber.