NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Do not envy evil people, do not desire to be with them;

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

2for their hearts contemplate violence, and their lips speak harm.

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

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

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

4by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures.

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

5A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;

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

6for with guidance you wage your war, and with numerous advisers there is victory.

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

7Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.

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

8The one who plans to do evil will be called a scheming person.

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

9A foolish scheme is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to people.

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

10If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small!

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

11Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.

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

12If you say, "But we did not know about this," does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?

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?

13Eat honey, my child, for it is good, and honey from the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

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

14Likewise, know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

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.

15Do not lie in wait like the wicked against the place where the righteous live; do not assault his home.

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

16Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again, but the wicked will be brought down by calamity.

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

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

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

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

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

19Do not fret because of evil people or be envious of wicked people,

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

20for the evil person has no future, and 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.

21Fear the LORD, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels,

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

22for suddenly their destruction will overtake them, and who knows the ruinous judgment both the LORD and the king can bring?

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

23These sayings also are from the wise: To show partiality in judgment is terrible:

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

24The one who says to the guilty, "You are innocent," peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him.

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

25But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty, and a pleasing blessing will come on them.

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

26Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer.

26He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.

27Establish your work outside and get your fields ready; afterward build your house.

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

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

28Do not be 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 pay him back according to what he has done."

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 passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom.

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

31I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.

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

32When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw:

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

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

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

34and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber."

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

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