1 Be not
thou envious against evil men,
neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction,
and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded;
and by understanding it is established:
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be
filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong;
yea,
a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make
thy war:
and in multitude of counsellors there is
safety.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool:
he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil
shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin:
and the scorner is an abomination to
men.
10 If thou faint in the day of
adversity,
thy strength is small.
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that
are drawn unto death,
and those that are ready to be slain;
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?
13 My son, eat thou honey,
because it is good;
and the honeycomb,
which is sweet to thy taste:
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.
15 Lay not wait,
O wicked man,
against the dwelling of the righteous;
spoil not his resting place:
16 For a just man falleth seven times,
and riseth up again:
but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth,
and let not thine heart be glad when he
stumbleth:
18 Lest the LORD see it,
and it displease him,
and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men,
neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 For there shall be no reward to the
evil man;
the candle of the wicked shall be put
out.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the
king:
and meddle not with them that are given
to change:
22 For their calamity shall rise
suddenly;
and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These things also belong to the wise.
It is not good to have respect of
persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked,
Thou art righteous;
him shall the people curse, nations
shall abhor him:
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be
delight,
and a good blessing shall come upon
them.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips
that giveth a right answer.
27 Prepare thy work without,
and make it fit for thyself in the
field;
and afterwards build thine house.
28 Be not a witness against thy
neighbour without cause;
and deceive not with thy lips.
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.
30 I went by the field of the slothful,
and by the vineyard of the man void of
understanding;
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.
32 Then I saw,
and considered it well:
I looked upon it,
and received instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep,
a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that
travelleth;
and thy want as an armed man.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
King James Version of 1611
