Study Desk

Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company;

Saying 20

Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;

for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.

for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;

Saying 21

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;

Saying 22

The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.

for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.

Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.

Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

Saying 23

Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

He who plots evil will be known as a schemer.

Saying 24

Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer.

The schemes of folly are sin, and men detest a mocker.

The schemes of folly are sin, and people detest a mocker.

If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!

Saying 25

If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Saying 26

Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house, do not raid his dwelling place;

Saying 27

Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place;

for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

Saying 28

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,

or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.

or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked,

Saying 29

Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked,

for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious,

Saying 30

Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,

for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring? Further Sayings of the Wise

for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?

These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good:

Further Sayings of the Wise

These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good:

Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"- peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.

Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.

But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.

But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive.

Do not testify against your neighbor without cause— would you use your lips to mislead?

Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did."

Do not say, "I'll do to them as they have done to me; I'll pay them back for what they did."

I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;

I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;

thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.

thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.

I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:

I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—

and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.