1 Do not be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2 For their heart studies robbery, and their lips speak evil.
3 Through wisdom the house shall be built, and with intelligence it shall be established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and beautiful riches. 5 The wise man is strong; and the man of understanding is a mighty man of valour. 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war, and in the multitude of counsellors there is saving health. 7 Wisdom, is too high for a fool; he shall not open his mouth in the gate.
8 He that devises to do evil shall be called a man of evil designs. 9 The thought of the foolish is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If thou art slack in the day of tribulation, thy strength shall be reduced. 11 If thou forbear to deliver those that are drawn unto death and those that are ready to be slain, 12 if thou should say, Behold, we knew it not; shall not he that weighs the hearts understand it? and he that keeps thy soul, does he not know it? and shall he not render to every man according to his works?
13 My son, eat of the honey, because it is good, and of the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: if thou shalt find it, and in the end thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Do not lay in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not spoil his resting place. 16 For a just man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked shall fall into evil.
17 Do not rejoice when thy enemy falls, and do not let thy heart be glad when he stumbles 18 lest the LORD see it and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Do not meddle with those who are evil, neither be envious of the wicked; 20 for the evil man shall not come to a good end; the fire of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not meddle with those that are given to change, 22 for their calamity shall rise suddenly; and the ruin of them both, who shall know it?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the peoples curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But unto those that rebuke him shall be delight, and a blessing of good shall come upon them. 26 The lips of the one that gives a right answer shall be kissed.
27 Prepare thy work without and make it fit for thyself in thine inheritance, and afterwards thou shalt build thine house.
28 Do not be a false witness against thy neighbour, and do not flatter with thy lips. 29 Do not say, I will do unto him as he has done unto me; I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I went by the field of the slothful and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding, 31 and, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered its face, and its stone wall was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it and received chastening. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travels and thy want as an armed man.