If they say, “Come with us;
Let us lie in wait to shed blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

I also will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when your dread and panic come,

When your dread and panic come like a storm,
And your disaster comes like a whirlwind,
When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].

For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless];

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.

Let your way [in life] be far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house [avoid even being near the places of temptation],

And you will groan when your life is ending,
When your flesh and your body are consumed;

So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks [slowly, but surely]
And your need [will come] like an armed man [making you helpless].

Therefore [the crushing weight of] his disaster will come suddenly upon him;
Instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or remedy [because he has no heart for God].

“Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us console and delight ourselves with love.

He has taken a bag of money with him,
And he will come home on the appointed day.”

“Come, eat my food
And drink the wine I have mixed [and accept my gifts].

What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous [for the blessings of God] will be granted.

The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy,
But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

When the wicked man dies, his expectation will perish;
And the hope of [godless] strong men perishes.

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

An evil man is [dangerously] ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.

A man will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words,
And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him [as a harvest].

No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.

The one who guards his mouth [thinking before he speaks] protects his life;
The one who opens his lips wide [and chatters without thinking] comes to ruin.

A righteous man hates lies,
But a wicked man is loathsome, and he acts shamefully.

Through pride and presumption come nothing but strife,
But [skillful and godly] wisdom is with those who welcome [well-advised] counsel.

Poverty and shame will come to him who refuses instruction and discipline,
But he who accepts and learns from reproof or censure is honored.

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
But much revenue [because of good crops] comes by the strength of the ox.

The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the instruction for wisdom [its starting point and its essence];
And before honor comes humility.

The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man,
But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes,
And with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn).

Before disaster the heart of a man is haughty and filled with self-importance,
But humility comes before honor.

The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him.

Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction,
That you may be wise in the time to come.

Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself
Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.

For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And the drowsiness [of overindulgence] will clothe one with rags.

Then your poverty will come as a robber,
And your want like an armed man.

Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape].

For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad;
So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.

He who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.

Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure;
And she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared].