1Don't be jealous of evil people, and don't wish to be with them.
2Because their hearts plan violence, and their lips talk about causing trouble.
3A house is built with wisdom and established with understanding.
4Through knowledge, its rooms are filled with all kinds of rare and beautiful treasures.
5A wise person has great strength, and a knowledgeable person increases their power.
6For you wage war with wise guidance, and victory comes from many advisors.
7Wisdom is too profound for a fool; he has nothing to say in public discussions.
8Anyone who plans to do evil will be called a schemer.
9Foolish plans are sinful. People detest a mocker.
10If you give up during hard times, it shows you don't have much strength.
11Save those who are being led to their death! Hold back people who are stumbling towards being killed!
12If you say, "Look, we didn't know about this"; won't God, who knows what's in people's hearts, consider it? Doesn't he who protects your life know? Won't he repay everyone based on what they have done?
13My child, eat honey, because it is good; the sweet honey straight from the honeycomb tastes good to you.
14In the same way, you should know that wisdom is good for your soul; if you find it, you will be rewarded, and your hope will not be lost.
15Don't plot, you evil person, against an honest person's home. Don't destroy their place of rest.
16Because even if a good person falls seven times, they will get up again; but wicked people are completely destroyed by disaster.
17Don't be happy when your enemy fails. Don't let your heart rejoice when they are defeated.
18Otherwise, Yahweh might see it and be displeased, and then he might stop being angry at your enemy.
19Don't get upset because of people who do evil; don't be jealous of wicked people.
20Because evil people will receive no reward; and the life of wicked people will be put out.
21My child, respect Yahweh and the king. Don't associate with those who rebel.
22Because disaster will come upon them suddenly; who knows what destruction will come from both Yahweh and the king?
23These are also sayings from the wise: It is not good to be unfair when making a judgment.
24Anyone who tells a wicked person, "You are innocent," will be cursed by people and hated by nations.
25But those who declare the guilty person guilty will do well, and a rich blessing will come upon them.
26An honest answer feels as good as a kiss on the lips.
27First, prepare your work outside and get your fields ready. After that, build your house.
28Don't testify against your neighbor without a good reason. Don't lie with your words.
29Don't say, "I will do to him what he did to me; I will pay that person back for what they did."
30I walked past the field of a lazy person, past the vineyard of someone who lacked understanding.
31Look, it was completely overgrown with thorns. Nettles covered its surface, and its stone wall had fallen down.
32Then I saw this, and I thought about it carefully. I saw, and I learned this lesson:
33a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest;
34then your poverty will attack you like a robber, and your need will come upon you like an armed man.