1 Have no envy for evil men, or any desire to be with them:

1 Do not be (A)envious of evil men,Nor desire to (B)be with them;

1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

1 Don’t envy evil men(A)or desire to be with them,(B)

1 Don't be envious of wicked men or wish you were with them,

2 For the purposes of their hearts are destruction, and their lips are talking of trouble.

2 For their (a)minds devise (C)violence,And their lips (D)talk of trouble.

2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

2 for their hearts plan violence,and their words stir up trouble.(C)

2 because they plan violence, and they are always talking about trouble.

3 The building of a house is by wisdom, and by reason it is made strong:

3 (E)By wisdom a house is built,And by understanding it is established;

3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

3 A house is built by wisdom,(D)and it is established by understanding;

3 By wisdom a house is built; it is made secure through understanding.

4 And by knowledge its rooms are full of all dear and pleasing things.

4 And by knowledge the rooms are (F)filledWith all precious and pleasant riches.

4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

4 by knowledge the rooms are filledwith every precious and beautiful treasure.

4 By knowledge its rooms are furnished with all sorts of expensive and beautiful goods.

5 A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge makes strength greater.

5 A (G)wise man is (b)strong,And a man of knowledge (c)increases power.

5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

5 A wise warrior is better than a strong one,(a)and a man of knowledge than one of strength;(b)(E)

5 A wise man is strong, and a knowledgeable man grows in strength.

6 For by wise guiding you will overcome in war: and in a number of wise guides there is salvation.

6 For (H)by wise guidance you will (d)wage war,And (I)in abundance of counselors there is victory.

6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.

6 for you should wage war with sound guidance—victory comes with many counselors.(F)

6 For through wise counsel you will wage your war, and victory lies in an abundance of advisors.

7 Wisdom is outside the power of the foolish: he keeps his mouth shut in the public place.

7 Wisdom is (J)too exalted for a fool,He does not open his mouth (K)in the gate.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

7 Wisdom is inaccessible to(c) a fool;(G)he does not open his mouth at the gate.(H)

7 Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool; he has nothing to say in court.

8 He whose purposes are bad will be named a man of evil designs.

8 One who (L)plans to do evil,Men will call a (e)schemer.

8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

8 The one who plots evil(I)will be called a schemer.

8 The person who plans on doing evil will be called a schemer.

9 The purpose of the foolish is sin: and the hater of authority is disgusting to others.

9 The (M)devising of folly is sin,And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

9 A foolish scheme is sin,and a mocker is detestable to people.

9 To devise folly is sin, and people detest a scoffer.

10 If you give way in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

10 If you (N)are slack in the day of distress,Your strength is limited.

10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

10 If you do nothing in a difficult time,your strength is limited.

10 If you grow weary when times are troubled, your strength is limited.

11 Be the saviour of those who are given up to death, and do not keep back help from those who are slipping to destruction.

11 (O)Deliver those who are being taken away to death,And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.

11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

11 Rescue those being taken off to death,and save those stumbling toward slaughter.(J)

11 Rescue those who are being led away to death, and save those who stumble toward slaughter.

12 If you say, See, we had no knowledge of this: does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?

12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,”Does He not (P)consider it (Q)who weighs the hearts?And (R)does He not know it who (S)keeps your soul?And will He not (f)(T)render to man according to his work?

12 If 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?

12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”won’t He who weighs hearts(K) consider it?Won’t He who protects your life(L) know?Won’t He repay a person according to his work?(M)

12 If you say, "Look here, we didn't know about this," doesn't God, who examines motives, discern it? Doesn't the one who guards your soul know about it? Won't he repay each person according to what he has done?

13 My son, take honey, for it is good; and the flowing honey, which is sweet to your taste:

13 My son, eat (U)honey, for it is good,Yes, the (V)honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;

13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

13 Eat honey,(N) my son, for it is good,and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;(O)

13 My son, eat honey, because it's good for you; indeed, drippings from the honeycomb are sweet to your taste;

14 So let your desire be for wisdom: if you have it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

14 Know that (W)wisdom is thus for your soul;If you find it, then there will be a (g)(X)future,And your hope will not be cut off.

14 So 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.

14 realize that wisdom is the same for you.(P)If you find it, you will have a future,and your hope will never fade.(Q)

14 Keep in mind that wisdom is like that for your soul; if you find it, there will be a future for you, and what you hope for won't be cut short.

15 Do not keep a secret watch, O evil-doer, against the fields of the upright man, or send destruction on his resting-place:

15 (Y)Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;Do not destroy his resting place;

15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

15 Wicked man, don’t set an ambush,at the camp of the righteous man;(R)don’t destroy his dwelling.

15 Don't lie in wait like an outlaw to attack where the righteous live;

16 For an upright man, after falling seven times, will get up again: but trouble is the downfall of the evil.

16 For a (Z)righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,But the (AA)wicked stumble in time of calamity.

16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

16 Though a righteous man falls seven times,he will get up,(S)but the wicked will stumble into ruin.(T)

16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again, but the wicked stumble into calamity.

17 Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:

17 (AB)Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,(U)

17 Don't rejoice when your enemy falls; don't let yourself be glad when he stumbles.

18 For fear that the Lord may see it, and it may be evil in his eyes, and his wrath may be turned away from him.

18 Or the Lord will see it and (h)be displeased,And turn His anger away from him.

18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

18 or the Lord will see, be displeased,and turn His wrath away from him.

18 Otherwise the LORD will observe and disapprove, and he will turn his anger away from him.

19 Do not be troubled because of evil-doers, or have envy of sinners:

19 (AC)Do not fret because of evildoersOr be (AD)envious of the wicked;

19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

19 Don’t be agitated by evildoers,and don’t envy the wicked.(V)

19 Don't be anxious about those who practice evil, and don't be envious of the wicked.

20 For there will be no future for the evil man; the light of sinners will be put out.

20 For (AE)there will be no (i)(AF)future for the evil man;The (AG)lamp of the wicked will be put out.

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

20 For the evil have no future;(W)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.(X)

20 For the wicked man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

21 My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:

21 My son, (j)(AH)fear the Lord and the king;Do not associate with those who are given to change,

21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,(Y)and don’t associate with rebels,(d)

21 My son, fear both the LORD and the king, and don't keep company with rebels.

22 For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?

22 For their (AI)calamity will rise suddenly,And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

22 for destruction from them will come suddenly;who knows what distress these two can bring?

22 They will be destroyed suddenly, and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?

More Sayings Of The Wise

23 These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.

23 These also are (AJ)sayings of the wise.To (k)(AK)show partiality in judgment is not good.

23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

23 These sayings also belong to the wise:(Z)It is not good to show partiality in judgment.(AA)

23 Here are some more proverbs from wise people: It isn't good to show partiality in judgment.

24 He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.

24 He (AL)who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”(AM)Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”(AB)people will curse him,(AC) and tribes will denounce him;

24 Whoever says to the wicked, "You're in the right," will be cursed by people and hated by nations.

25 But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.

25 But (AN)to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight,And a good blessing will come upon them.

25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,and a generous blessing will come to them.

25 But as for people who rebuke the wicked; a good blessing will fall upon them.

26 He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.

26 He kisses the lipsWho gives (l)a right answer.

26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

26 He who gives an honest answergives a kiss on the lips.

26 A kiss on the lips that's what someone who gives an honest answer deserves.

27 Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.

27 Prepare your work outsideAnd (AO)make it ready for yourself in the field;Afterwards, then, build your house.

27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;(AD)afterward, build your house.

27 First do your outside work, preparing your land for yourself. After that, build your house.

28 Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.

28 Do not be a (AP)witness against your neighbor without cause,And (AQ)do not deceive with your lips.

28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

28 Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause.(AE)Don’t deceive with your lips.

28 Don't testify against your neighbor without a cause, and don't lie when you speak.

29 Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.

29 (AR)Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me;I will (m)render to the man according to his work.”

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me;I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”(AF)

29 Don't say, "I'll do to him like he did to me, I'll be sure to pay him back for what he did."

30 I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;

30 I passed by the field of the sluggardAnd by the vineyard of the man (AS)lacking (n)sense,

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

30 I went by the field of a slackerand by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.

30 I went by the field belonging to a lazy man, by a vineyard belonging to a senseless person.

31 And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.

31 And behold, it was completely (AT)overgrown with thistles;Its surface was covered with (o)(AU)nettles,And its stone (AV)wall was broken down.

31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

31 Thistles had come up everywhere,weeds covered the ground,(AG)and the stone wall was ruined.

31 There it was, overgrown with thistles, the ground covered with thorns, its stone wall collapsed.

32 Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got teaching from it.

32 When I saw, I (p)reflected upon it;I looked, and received instruction.

32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

32 I saw, and took it to heart;I looked, and received instruction:

32 As I observed, I thought about it; I watched, and learned a lesson:

33 A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:

33 (AW)A little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to rest,”

33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

33 a little sleep, a little slumber,a little folding of the arms to rest,

33 "A little sleep! A little slumber! A little folding of my hands to rest!"

34 So loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man.

34 Then your poverty will come as (q)a robberAnd your want like (r)an armed man.

34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

34 and your poverty will come like a robber,your need, like a bandit.(AH)

34 Then your poverty will come upon you like a robber, your need like an armed bandit.

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

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