New King James Version

English Standard Version

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

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

2For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking.

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

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

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

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

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

5A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;

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

6For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

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

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

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

8He who plots to do evil Will be called a schemer.

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

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

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

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

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

11Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.

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

12If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

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?

13My son, eat honey because it is good, And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;

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

14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you have found it, there is a prospect, And your hope will not be cut off.

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.

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

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

16For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

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

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

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

18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.

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

19Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked;

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

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

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

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

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

22For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin those two can bring?

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

23These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.

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

24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him.

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

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

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

26He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

26Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

27Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.

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

28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips?

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

29Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”

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.”

30I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;

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

31And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down.

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

32When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:

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

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

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

34So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.