Online Bible

Do not be ^aenvious of evil men,Nor desire to ^bbe with them;2 For their ¹minds devise ^aviolence,And their lips ^btalk of trouble.

3 ^aBy wisdom a house is built,And by understanding it is established;4 And by knowledge the rooms are ^afilledWith all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A ^awise man is ¹strong,And a man of knowledge ²increases power.6 For ^aby wise guidance you will ¹wage war,And ^bin abundance of counselors there is victory.

7 Wisdom is ^atoo exalted for a fool,He does not open his mouth ^bin the gate.

8 One who ^aplans to do evil,Men will call a ¹schemer.9 The ^adevising of folly is sin,And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

10 If you ^aare slack in the day of distress,Your strength is limited.

11 ^aDeliver those who are being taken away to death,And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,”Does He not ^aconsider it ^bwho weighs the hearts?And ^cdoes He not know it who ^dkeeps your soul?And will He not ¹^erender to man according to his work?

13 My son, eat ^ahoney, for it is good,Yes, the ^bhoney from the comb is sweet to your taste;14 Know that ^awisdom is thus for your soul;If you find it, then there will be a ¹^bfuture,And your hope will not be cut off.

15 ^aDo not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;Do not destroy his resting place;16 For a ^arighteous man falls seven times, and rises again,But the ^bwicked stumble in time of calamity.

17 ^aDo not rejoice when your enemy falls,And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;18 Or the LORD will see it and ¹be displeased,And turn His anger away from him.

19 ^aDo not fret because of evildoersOr be ^benvious of the wicked;20 For ^athere will be no ¹^bfuture for the evil man;The ^clamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, ¹^afear the LORD and the king;Do not associate with those who are given to change,22 For their ^acalamity will rise suddenly,And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?

23 These also are ^asayings of the wise.To ¹^bshow partiality in judgment is not good.24 He ^awho says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”^bPeoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;25 But ^ato those who rebuke the wicked will be delight,And a good blessing will come upon them.26 He kisses the lipsWho gives ¹a right answer.

27 Prepare your work outsideAnd ^amake it ready for yourself in the field;Afterwards, then, build your house.

28 Do not be a ^awitness against your neighbor without cause,And ^bdo not deceive with your lips.29 ^aDo not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me;I will ¹render to the man according to his work.”

30 I passed by the field of the sluggardAnd by the vineyard of the man ^alacking ¹sense,31 And behold, it was completely ^aovergrown with thistles;Its surface was covered with ¹^bnettles,And its stone ^cwall was broken down.32 When I saw, I ¹reflected upon it;I looked, and received instruction.33 “^aA little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to rest,”34 Then your poverty will come as ¹a robberAnd your want like ²an armed man.