Don't Be Envious of Evil Men

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9The 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.

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

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 thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Further Sayings of the Wise

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

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

25But 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.

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

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

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 of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

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

32Then 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:

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