| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Don't envy evil men or desire to be with them, | 1Don't be envious of wicked men or wish you were with them, |
| 2for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble. | 2because they plan violence, and they are always talking about trouble. |
| 3A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding; | 3By wisdom a house is built; it is made secure through understanding. |
| 4by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure. | 4By knowledge its rooms are furnished with all sorts of expensive and beautiful goods. |
| 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 knowledgeable man grows in strength. |
| 6for you should wage war with sound guidance-- victory comes with many counselors. | 6For through wise counsel you will wage your war, and victory lies in an abundance of advisors. |
| 7Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the gate. | 7Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool; he has nothing to say in court. |
| 8The one who plots evil will be called a schemer. | 8The person who plans on doing evil will be called a schemer. |
| 9A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to people. | 9To devise folly is sin, and people detest a scoffer. |
| 10If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited. | 10If you grow weary when times are troubled, your strength is limited. |
| 11Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter. | 11Rescue those who are being led away to death, and save those who stumble toward slaughter. |
| 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, "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? |
| 13Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; | 13My son, eat honey, because it's good for you; indeed, drippings from the honeycomb are 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. | 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. |
| 15Wicked man, don't set an ambush, at the camp of the righteous man; don't destroy his dwelling. | 15Don't lie in wait like an outlaw to attack where the righteous live; |
| 16Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin. | 16for though a righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again, but the wicked stumble into calamity. |
| 17Don't gloat when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, | 17Don't rejoice when your enemy falls; don't let yourself be glad when he stumbles. |
| 18or the LORD will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him. | 18Otherwise the LORD will observe and disapprove, and he will turn his anger away from him. |
| 19Don't be agitated by evildoers, and don't envy the wicked. | 19Don't be anxious about those who practice evil, and don't be envious of the wicked. |
| 20For the evil have 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, as well as the king, and don't associate with rebels, | 21My son, fear both the LORD and the king, and don't keep company with rebels. |
| 22for destruction from them will come suddenly; who knows what distress these two can bring? | 22They will be destroyed suddenly, and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two? |
| 23These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. | 23Here are some more proverbs from wise people: It isn't good to show partiality in judgment. |
| 24Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"-- people will curse him, and tribes will denounce him; | 24Whoever says to the wicked, "You're in the right," will be cursed by people and hated by nations. |
| 25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them. | 25But as for people who rebuke the wicked; a good blessing will fall upon them. |
| 26He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips. | 26A kiss on the lips— that's what someone who gives an honest answer deserves. |
| 27Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward, build your house. | 27First do your outside work, preparing your land for yourself. After that, build your house. |
| 28Don't testify against your neighbor without cause. Don't deceive with your lips. | 28Don't testify against your neighbor without a cause, and don't lie when you speak. |
| 29Don't say, "I'll do to him what he did to me; I'll repay the man 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 went by the field of a slacker and 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. |
| 31Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined. | 31There it was, overgrown with thistles, the ground covered with thorns, its stone wall collapsed. |
| 32I saw, and took it to heart; 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 arms to rest, | 33"A little sleep! A little slumber! A little folding of my hands to rest!" |
| 34and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit. | 34Then your poverty will come upon you like a robber, your need like an armed bandit. |
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