Don't Be Envious of Evil Men
1Be not thou enviousagainst evilmen,neither desireto be with them.
2For their heartstudiethdestruction,and their lipstalkof mischief.
3Through wisdomis an housebuilded;and by understandingit is established:
4And by knowledgeshall the chambersbe filledwith all preciousand pleasantriches.
5A wiseman[is] strong;yea, a manof knowledgeincreasethstrength.
6For by wise counselthou shalt makethy war:and in multitudeof counsellors[there is] safety.
7Wisdom[is] too highfor a fool:he openethnot his mouthin the gate.
8He that devisethto do evilshall be calleda mischievousperson.
9The thoughtof foolishness[is] sin:and the scorner[is] an abominationto men.
10[If] thou faintin the dayof adversity,thy strength[is] small.
11If thou forbearto deliver[them that are] drawnunto death,and [those that are] readyto be slain;
12If thou sayest,Behold, we knewit not; doth not he that pondereththe heartconsider[it]? and he that keepeththy soul,doth [not] he know[it]? and shall [not] he renderto [every] manaccording to his works?
13My son,eatthou honey,because [it is] good;and the honeycomb,[which is] sweetto thy taste:
14So [shall] the knowledgeof wisdom[be] unto thy soul:when thou hast found[it], then there shall bea reward,and thy expectationshall not be cut off.
15Lay not wait,O wicked[man], against the dwellingof the righteous;spoilnot his resting place:
16For a just[man] fallethseven times,and riseth up again:but the wickedshall fallinto mischief.
17Rejoicenot when thine enemyfalleth,and let not thine heartbe gladwhen he stumbleth:
18Lest the LORDsee[it], and it displeasehim, and he turn awayhis wrathfrom him.
19Fretnot thyself because of evil[men], neither be thou enviousat the wicked;
20For there shall be no rewardto the evil[man]; the candleof the wickedshall be put out.
21My son,fearthou the LORDand the king:[and] meddlenot with them that are given to change:
22For their calamityshall risesuddenly;and who knoweththe ruinof them both?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23These [things] also [belong] to the wise.[It is] not goodto have respectof personsin judgment.
24He that saithunto the wicked,Thou [art] righteous;him shall the peoplecurse,nationsshall abhorhim:
25But to them that rebuke[him] shall be delight,and a goodblessingshall comeupon them.
26[Every man] shall kiss[his] lipsthat givetha rightanswer.
27Preparethy workwithout,and make it fitfor thyself in the field;and afterwardsbuildthine house.
28Be not a witnessagainst thy neighbourwithout cause;and deceive[not] with thy lips.
29Saynot, I will doso to him as he hath doneto me: I will renderto the manaccording to his work.
30I wentby the fieldof the slothful,and by the vineyardof the manvoidof understanding;
31And, lo, it was all grown overwith thorns,[and] nettleshad coveredthe facethereof, and the stonewallthereof was broken down.
32Then I saw,[and] considered [it] well:I lookedupon [it, and] receivedinstruction.
33[Yet] a littlesleep,a littleslumber,a littlefoldingof the handsto sleep:
34So shall thy povertycome[as] one that travelleth;and thy wantas an armedman.
