English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,

1Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.

2for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.

2For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.

3By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;

3A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.

4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

4Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

5A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

5The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.

6for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

6So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.

7Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.

7Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.

8Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer.

8A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.

9The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

9The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.

10If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

10If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

11Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

11Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.

12If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

12Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

13My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

13My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.

14Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

14In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.

15Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home;

15Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.

16for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

16The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

17Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.

18lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.

18For the LORD will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.

19Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked,

19Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked.

20for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

20For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise,

21My child, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,

22for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

22for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the LORD and the king? More Sayings of the Wise

23These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.

23Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.

24Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

24A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.

25but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.

25But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.

26Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

26An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.

27Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

27Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.

28Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

28Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them.

29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

29And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”

30I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

30I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.

31and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

31I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.

32Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.

32Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:

33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

33A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—

34and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

34then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.