King James Bible

International Standard Version

1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

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

2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

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

3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

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

4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

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

5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

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

6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.

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

7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

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

8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

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

9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

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

10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

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

11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

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

12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

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?

13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

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

14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

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.

15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

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

16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

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

17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

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

18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

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

19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

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

20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

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

21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

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

22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

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

23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

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

24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

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

25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

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

26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

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

27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

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

28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

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

29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

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."

30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

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

31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

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

32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

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

33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

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

34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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