International Standard Version

King James Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12If 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?

12If 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?

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

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

14Keep 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.

14So 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.