| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, | 1Do not envy evil people, do not desire to be with them; |
| 2for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. | 2for their hearts contemplate violence, and their lips speak harm. |
| 3By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; | 3By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; |
| 4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. | 4by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures. |
| 5A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, | 5A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger; |
| 6for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. | 6for with guidance you wage your war, and with numerous advisers there is victory. |
| 7Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth. | 7Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth. |
| 8Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. | 8The one who plans to do evil will be called a scheming person. |
| 9The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. | 9A foolish scheme is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to people. |
| 10If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. | 10If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small! |
| 11Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. | 11Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the 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, "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? |
| 13My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. | 13Eat honey, my child, for it is good, and honey from the honeycomb is 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. | 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. |
| 15Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; | 15Do not lie in wait like the wicked against the place where the righteous live; do not assault his home. |
| 16for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. | 16Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again, but the wicked will be brought down by calamity. |
| 17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, | 17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice, |
| 18lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. | 18lest the LORD see it, and be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him. |
| 19Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, | 19Do not fret because of evil people or be envious of wicked people, |
| 20for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. | 20for the evil person has no future, and 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, | 21Fear the LORD, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels, |
| 22for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both? | 22for suddenly their destruction will overtake them, and who knows the ruinous judgment both the LORD and the king can bring? |
| 23These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good. | 23These sayings also are from the wise: To show partiality in judgment is terrible: |
| 24Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, | 24The one who says to the guilty, "You are innocent," peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him. |
| 25but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. | 25But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty, and a pleasing blessing will come on them. |
| 26Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips. | 26Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer. |
| 27Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. | 27Establish your work outside and get your fields ready; afterward build your house. |
| 28Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. | 28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your words. |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 30I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, | 30I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom. |
| 31and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. | 31I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down. |
| 32Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. | 32When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw: |
| 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 the hands to relax, |
| 34and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. | 34and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber." |
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