1不要羡慕恶人，
不要向往与他们为友；
2因为他们心里图谋暴行，
口中谈论恶事。
3家靠智慧而建立，
靠悟性而稳固，
4借知识而充满各种珍宝。
5智者充满能力，
哲士力上加力。
6出征打仗，要凭智谋；
谋士众多，胜券在握。
7智慧对愚人高不可及，
他在城门口沉默不语。
8图谋作恶的必被称为阴谋家。
9愚人的计谋是罪恶，
人人都厌恶嘲讽者。
10逆境中丧胆的是弱者。
11被拉去屠杀的，你要抢救；
踉跄受死的，你要拦阻。
12不要推说自己毫不知情，
鉴察人心的主洞悉一切，
保守你生命的上帝知情，
祂必按你的行为报应你。
13孩子啊，你要吃美好的蜂蜜，
蜂房滴下的蜜甘甜可口。
14智慧同样使你的心灵甘甜；
你若找到智慧，前途必光明，
盼望也不会幻灭。
15不要像恶人一样暗算义人，
破坏他的家。
16因为义人跌倒七次也必起来，
恶人却被灾祸击垮。
17仇敌跌倒，不要幸灾乐祸；
仇敌败落，不要心里欢喜。
18否则，耶和华看见会不悦，
不再向仇敌发烈怒。
19不要因恶人而愤愤不平，
也不要羡慕歹徒；
20因为恶人毫无前途，
恶人的灯终必熄灭。
21孩子啊，要敬畏耶和华和君王，
不要跟反复无常之徒为伍。
22因为灾祸必骤然临到他们，
谁知道耶和华和君王如何毁灭他们？
其他智言
23以下也是智者的箴言：
判案时偏袒实为不善。
24判恶人无罪的，
必遭万人咒诅，
为列国痛恨。
25责备恶人的必有欢乐，
美好的福气必临到他。
26诚实的回答如同友好的亲吻。
27要安排好外面的事，
把田间的工作准备妥当，
然后建造房屋。
28别无故作证害邻舍，
也不可撒谎欺骗人。
29不可说：“别人怎样待我，
我就怎样待他；
我要照他所做的报复他。”
30我走过懒惰人的田地和无知者的葡萄园，
31那里荆棘遍地，
刺草丛生，
石墙倒塌。
32我仔细思想所见之事，
领悟到一个教训：
33再睡一会儿，
打个盹儿，
抱着手躺一会儿，
34贫穷必像强盗一样临到你，
缺乏必像武士一样扑向你。
Saying 20
1Do not want what evil people have.
Don’t long to be with them.
2In their hearts they plan to hurt others.
With their lips they talk about making trouble.
Saying 21
3By wisdom a house is built.
Through understanding it is made secure.
4Through knowledge its rooms are filled
with priceless and beautiful things.
Saying 22
5Wise people have success by means of great power.
Those who have knowledge gather strength.
6If you go to war, you surely need guidance.
If you want to win, you need many good advisers.
Saying 23
7Wisdom is too high for foolish people.
They shouldn’t speak when people meet at the city gate to conduct business.
Saying 24
8Anyone who thinks up sinful things to do
will be known as one who plans evil.
9Foolish plans are sinful.
People hate those who make fun of others.
Saying 25
10If you grow weak when trouble comes,
your strength is very small!
11Save those who are being led away to death.
Hold back those who are about to be killed.
12Don’t say, “But we didn’t know anything about this.”
Doesn’t the God who knows what you are thinking see it?
Doesn’t the God who guards your life know it?
He will pay back everyone for what they have done.
Saying 26
13Eat honey, my son, because it is good.
Honey from a honeycomb has a sweet taste.
14I want you to know that wisdom is like honey for you.
If you find it, there is hope for you tomorrow.
So your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 27
15Don’t hide and wait like a burglar near a godly person’s house.
Don’t rob their home.
16Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up.
But those who are evil trip and fall when trouble comes.
Saying 28
17Don’t be happy when your enemy falls.
When he trips, don’t let your heart be glad.
18The Lord will see it, but he won’t be pleased.
He might turn his anger away from your enemy.
Saying 29
19Don’t be upset because of evil people.
Don’t long for what sinners have.
20Tomorrow evil people won’t have any hope.
The lamps of sinners will be blown out.
Saying 30
21My son, have respect for the Lord and the king.
Don’t join with officials who disobey them.
22The Lord and the king will suddenly destroy them.
Who knows what trouble those two can bring?
More Sayings of Wise People
23Here are more sayings of wise people.
Taking sides in court is not good.
24A curse will fall on those who say the guilty are not guilty.
Nations will ask for bad things to happen to them.
People will speak against them.
25But it will go well with those who sentence guilty people.
Rich blessings will come to them.
26An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
27Put your outdoor work in order.
Get your fields ready.
After that, build your house.
28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor for no reason.
Would you use your lips to tell lies?
29Don’t say, “I’ll do to them what they have done to me.
I’ll get even with them for what they did.”
30I went past the field of someone who didn’t want to work.
I went past the vineyard of someone who didn’t have any sense.
31Thorns had grown up everywhere.
The ground was covered with weeds.
The stone wall had fallen down.
32I applied my heart to what I observed.
I learned a lesson from what I saw.
33You might sleep a little or take a little nap.
You might even fold your hands and rest.
34Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you.
You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.
