International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Don't be envious of wicked men or wish you were with them,

1Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;

2because they plan violence, and they are always talking about trouble.

2For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble.

3By wisdom a house is built; it is made secure through understanding.

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

4By knowledge its rooms are furnished with all sorts of expensive and beautiful goods.

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

5A wise man is strong, and a knowledgeable man grows in strength.

5A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power.

6For through wise counsel you will wage your war, and victory lies in an abundance of advisors.

6For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.

7Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool; he has nothing to say in court.

7Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate.

8The person who plans on doing evil will be called a schemer.

8One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer.

9To devise folly is sin, and people detest a scoffer.

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

10If you grow weary when times are troubled, your strength is limited.

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

11Rescue those who are being led away to death, and save those who stumble toward slaughter.

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

12If you say, "Look here, we didn't know about this," doesn't God, who examines motives, discern it? Doesn't the one who guards your soul know about it? Won't he repay each person according to what he has done?

12If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?

13My son, eat honey, because it's good for you; indeed, drippings from the honeycomb are sweet to your taste;

13My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;

14Keep in mind that wisdom is like that for your soul; if you find it, there will be a future for you, and what you hope for won't be cut short.

14Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.

15Don't lie in wait like an outlaw to attack where the righteous live;

15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place;

16for though a righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again, but the wicked stumble into calamity.

16For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.

17Don't rejoice when your enemy falls; don't let yourself be glad when he stumbles.

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

18Otherwise the LORD will observe and disapprove, and he will turn his anger away from him.

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

19Don't be anxious about those who practice evil, and don't be envious of the wicked.

19Do not fret because of evildoers Or be envious of the wicked;

20For the wicked man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

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

21My son, fear both the LORD and the king, and don't keep company with rebels.

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

22They will be destroyed suddenly, and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?

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

23Here are some more proverbs from wise people: It isn't good to show partiality in judgment.

23These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

24Whoever says to the wicked, "You're in the right," will be cursed by people and hated by nations.

24He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;

25But as for people who rebuke the wicked; a good blessing will fall upon them.

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

26A kiss on the lips— that's what someone who gives an honest answer deserves.

26He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.

27First do your outside work, preparing your land for yourself. After that, build your house.

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

28Don't testify against your neighbor without a cause, and don't lie when you speak.

28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips.

29Don't say, "I'll do to him like he did to me, I'll be sure to pay him back for what he did."

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

30I went by the field belonging to a lazy man, by a vineyard belonging to a senseless person.

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

31There it was, overgrown with thistles, the ground covered with thorns, its stone wall collapsed.

31And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.

32As I observed, I thought about it; I watched, and learned a lesson:

32When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.

33"A little sleep! A little slumber! A little folding of my hands to rest!"

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

34Then your poverty will come upon you like a robber, your need like an armed bandit.

34Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org