1  Be not ^yenvious of evil men,

nor desire to be with them,

2  for their hearts devise violence,

and their lips talk of trouble.

3  By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

4  by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.

5  A wise man is full of strength,

and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

6  for ^zby wise guidance you can wage your war,

and ^ain abundance of counselors there is victory.

7  Wisdom is too high for a fool;

in the gate he does not open his mouth.

8  Whoever ^bplans to do evil

will be called a schemer.

9  The devising¹ of folly is sin,

and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

10  If you faint in the day of adversity,

your strength is small.

11  ^cRescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

12  If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”

does not he who ^dweighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man ^eaccording to his work?

13  My son, eat honey, for it is good,

and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

14  Know that wisdom is such to your soul;

if you find it, ^fthere will be a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

15  Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;

do no violence to his home;

16  for the righteous ^gfalls seven times and rises again,

but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.