English Standard Version

International Standard Version

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

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

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

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

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

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

4by knowledge the rooms are 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 full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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