from Crossway1Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, (Ps 37:1; Pr 1:15; Pr 24:19)2for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. (Ps 10:7; Isa 59:13)3By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; (Pr 14:1)4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. (Pr 23:23; Lu 16:11)5A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, (Pr 21:22)6for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. (Pr 11:14; Pr 20:18)7Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth. (Job 5:4; Pr 14:6)8Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. (Ro 1:30)9The devising[1] of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. (Ps 1:1; Pr 21:27)10If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. (Heb 12:3)11Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. (Ps 82:4; Isa 58:6)12If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (1Sa 16:7; Job 34:11; Ps 91:11; Pr 16:2; Ec 5:8)13My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. (Ps 19:10; Ps 119:103; So 4:11; So 5:1; Isa 7:15)14Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. (Pr 23:18)15Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; (Ps 10:9)16for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. (Job 5:19; Ps 37:24; Pr 14:32)17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, (Ps 35:15; Ps 35:19; Pr 17:5; Mic 7:8)18lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.19Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, (Ps 37:1; Pr 24:1; Jer 12:1)20for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. (Job 18:5; Pr 13:9; Pr 24:14)21My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, (Ro 13:7; 1Pe 2:17)22for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
More Sayings of the Wise
23These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good. (Pr 1:6; Pr 18:5; Pr 22:17)24Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, (Pr 11:26; Pr 17:15)25but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.26Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.27Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. (Lu 14:28)28Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. (Pr 25:18)29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” (Pr 20:22)30I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, (Job 5:3; Pr 6:32)31and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. (Isa 5:5)32Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. (Pr 22:17)33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, (Pr 6:10)34and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
1Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;2for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.
Saying 21
3By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;4through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Saying 22
5The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.6Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisors.7Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
Saying 23 Saying 24
8Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer.9The schemes of folly are sin, and people detest a mocker.
Saying 25
10If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!11Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter.12If 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?
Saying 26
13Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.14Know 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.
Saying 27
15Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling-place;16for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Saying 28
17Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,18or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.
Saying 29
19Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked,20for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
Saying 30
21Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,22for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good:24whoever says to the guilty, ‘You are innocent,’ will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.25But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.27Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.28Do not testify against your neighbour without cause – would you use your lips to mislead?29Do not say, ‘I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.’30I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;31thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.32I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:33a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest –34and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
1Do not want what evil people have. Don’t long to be with them.2In their hearts they plan to hurt others. With their lips they talk about making trouble.
Saying 21
3By wisdom a house is built. Through understanding it is made secure.4Through knowledge its rooms are filled with priceless and beautiful things.
Saying 22
5Wise people have success by means of great power. Those who have knowledge gather strength.6If you go to war, you surely need guidance. If you want to win, you need many good advisers.7Wisdom is too high for foolish people. They shouldn’t speak when people meet at the city gate to conduct business.
Saying 23 Saying 24
8Anyone who thinks up sinful things to do will be known as one who plans evil.9Foolish plans are sinful. People hate those who make fun of others.
Saying 25
10If you grow weak when trouble comes, your strength is very small!11Save those who are being led away to death. Hold back those who are about to be killed.12Don’t say, ‘But we didn’t know anything about this.’ Doesn’t the God who knows what you are thinking see it? Doesn’t the God who guards your life know it? He will pay back everyone for what they have done.
Saying 26
13Eat honey, my son, because it is good. Honey from a honeycomb has a sweet taste.14I want you to know that wisdom is like honey for you. If you find it, there is hope for you tomorrow. So your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 27
15Don’t hide and wait like a burglar near a godly person’s house. Don’t rob their home.16Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up. But those who are evil trip and fall when trouble comes.
Saying 28
17Don’t be happy when your enemy falls. When he trips, don’t let your heart be glad.18The LORD will see it, but he won’t be pleased. He might turn his anger away from your enemy.
Saying 29
19Don’t be upset because of evil people. Don’t long for what sinners have.20Tomorrow evil people won’t have any hope. The lamps of sinners will be blown out.
Saying 30
21My son, have respect for the LORD and the king. Don’t join with officials who disobey them.22The LORD and the king will suddenly destroy them. Who knows what trouble those two can bring?23Here are more sayings of wise people. Taking sides in court is not good.24A curse will fall on those who say the guilty are not guilty. Nations will ask for bad things to happen to them. People will speak against them.25But it will go well with those who sentence guilty people. Rich blessings will come to them.26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.27Put your outdoor work in order. Get your fields ready. After that, build your house.28Don’t be a witness against your neighbour for no reason. Would you use your lips to tell lies?29Don’t say, ‘I’ll do to them what they have done to me. I’ll get even with them for what they did.’30I went past the field of someone who didn’t want to work. I went past the vineyard of someone who didn’t have any sense.31Thorns had grown up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds. The stone wall had fallen down.32I applied my heart to what I observed. I learned a lesson from what I saw.33You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest.34Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.