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.
1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.24.5 is strong: Heb. is in strength24.5 increaseth…: Heb. strengtheneth might 6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in 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 shall be called a mischievous person. 9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.24.10 small: Heb. narrow
11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:24.13 to…: Heb. upon thy palate 14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: 16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.24.18 it displease…: Heb. it be evil in his eyes
19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;24.19 Fret…: or, Keep not company with the wicked 20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.24.20 candle: or, lamp
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:24.21 them…: Heb. changers 22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.24.25 a good…: Heb. a blessing of good 26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.24.26 that…: Heb. that answereth right words 27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbour 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 slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.24.32 considered…: Heb. set my heart 33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.24.34 an…: Heb. a man of shield
