Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Don't envy the evil or desire to be with them,

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

2for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.

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

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

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

4by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.

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

5A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength;

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

6for you should wage war with sound guidance--victory comes with many counselors.

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

7Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the city gate.

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

8The one who plots evil will be called a schemer.

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

9A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to people.

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

10If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.

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

11Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling 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, "But we didn't know about this," won't he who weighs hearts consider it? Won't he who protects your life know? Won't he repay a person according to his work?

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 son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;

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

14realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.

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 set an ambush, you wicked one, at the camp of the righteous man; don't destroy his dwelling.

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

16Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.

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

17Don't gloat when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

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

18or the LORD will see, 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.

19Don't be agitated by evildoers, and don't envy the wicked.

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

20For the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

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

21My son, fear the LORD, as well as the king, and don't associate with rebels,

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

22for destruction will come suddenly from them; who knows what distress these two can bring?

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

23These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not 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 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 it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them.

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

26He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.

26He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.

27Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward, 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 cause. Don't deceive with your lips.

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 what he did to me; I'll repay the man for 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 went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.

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

31Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined.

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

32I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:

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

33a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,

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

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

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

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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