1Be not thou envious against evil men ; Neither desire to be with them : 2For their heart studieth oppression , And their lips talk of mischief . 3Through wisdom is a house builded ; And by understanding it is established ; 4And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches . 5A wise man is strong ; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might .
The Value of Counsel
6For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war ; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety . 7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate . 8He that deviseth to do evil , Men shall call him a mischief-maker.
The Dangers of Laziness
9The thought of foolishness is sin ; And the scoffer is an abomination to men. 10If thou faint in the day of adversity , Thy strength is small . 11Deliver them that are carried away unto death , And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back . 12If thou sayest, Behold , we knew not this ; Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it ? And he that keepeth thy soul , doth not he know it ? And shall not he render to every man according to his work ?
Justice and Righteousness
13My son , eat thou honey , for it is good ; And the droppings of the honeycomb , which are sweet to thy taste : 14So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul ; If thou hast found it , then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off . 15Lay not wait, O wicked man , against the habitation of the righteous ; Destroy not his resting-place: 16For a righteous man falleth seven times , and riseth up again ; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity .
The Importance of Perseverance
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth , And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown ; 18Lest Jehovah see it , and it displease him , And he turn away his wrath from him . 19Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; Neither be thou envious at the wicked : 20For there shall be no reward to the evil man ; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out . 21My son , fear thou Jehovah and the king ; And company not with them that are given to change : 22For their calamity shall rise suddenly ; And the destruction from them both , who knoweth it ? 23These also are sayings of the wise . To have respect of persons in judgment is not good . 24He that saith unto the wicked , Thou art righteous , Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him; 25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight , And a good blessing shall come upon them . 26He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer . 27Prepare thy work without , And make it ready for thee in the field ; And afterwards build thy house . 28Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause ; And deceive not with thy lips . 29Say not , I will do so to him as he hath done to me ; I will render to the man according to his work . 30I went by the field of the sluggard , And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding ; 31And , lo , it was all grown over with thorns , The face thereof was covered with nettles , And the stone wall thereof was broken down . 32Then I beheld , and considered well ; I saw , and received instruction : 33Yet a little sleep , a little slumber , A little folding of the hands to sleep ; 34So shall thy poverty come as a robber , And thy want as an armed man.