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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 ^(F1)minds devise ^(C1)violence,
And their lips ^(C2)talk of trouble.

^3 (C1)By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;

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

⁵ A ^(C1)wise man is ^(F1)strong,
And a man of knowledge ^(F2)increases power.

⁶ For ^(C1)by wise guidance you will ^(F1)wage war,
And ^(C2)in abundance of counselors there is victory.

⁷ Wisdom is ^(C1)too exalted for a fool,
He does not open his mouth ^(C2)in the gate.

⁸ One who ^(C1)plans to do evil,
Men will call a ^(F1)schemer.

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

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

^11 (C1)Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.

¹² If you say, "See, we did not know this,"
Does He not ^(C1)consider it ^(C2)who weighs the hearts?
And ^(C3)does He not know it who ^(C4)keeps your soul?
And will He not ^(F1)(C5)render to man according to his work?

¹³ My son, eat ^(C1)honey, for it is good,
Yes, the ^(C2)honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;

¹⁴ Know that ^(C1)wisdom is thus for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a ^(F1)(C2)future,
And your hope 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 calamity.

^17 (C1)Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;

¹⁸ Or the LORD will see it and ^(F1)be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him.

^19 (C1)Do not fret because of evildoers
Or be ^(C2)envious of the wicked;

²⁰ For ^(C1)there will be no ^(F1)(C2)future for the evil man;
The ^(C3)lamp of the wicked will be put out.

²¹ My son, ^(F1)(C1)fear the LORD and the king;
Do not associate with those who are given to change,

²² For their ^(C1)calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?

²³ These also are ^(C1)sayings of the wise.
To ^(F1)(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 abhor him;

²⁵ But ^(C1)to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.

²⁶ He kisses the lips
Who gives ^(F1)a right answer.

²⁷ Prepare your work outside
And ^(C1)make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterwards, then, build your house.

²⁸ Do not be a ^(C1)witness against your neighbor without cause,
And ^(C2)do not deceive with your lips.

^29 (C1)Do not say, "Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me;
I will ^(F1)render to the man according to his work."

³⁰ I passed by the field of the sluggard
And by the vineyard of the man ^(C1)lacking ^(F1)sense,

³¹ And behold, it was completely ^(C1)overgrown with thistles;
Its surface was covered with ^(F1)(C2)nettles,
And its stone ^(C3)wall was broken down.

³² When I saw, I ^(F1)reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.

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

³⁴ Then your poverty will come as ^(F1)a robber
And your want like ^(F2)an armed man.