Do Not Envy Saying 20 1 CPDV Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them. BSB BSB: Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
2 CPDV For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions. BSB BSB: for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
Saying 21 3 CPDV By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened. BSB BSB: By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
4 CPDV By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful. BSB BSB: through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
Saying 22 5 CPDV A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant. BSB BSB: A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
6 CPDV For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels. BSB BSB: Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
Saying 23 7 CPDV Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth. BSB BSB: Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
Saying 24 8 CPDV Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish. BSB BSB: He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 CPDV The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men. BSB BSB: A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
Saying 25 10 CPDV If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished. BSB BSB: If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
11 CPDV Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death. BSB BSB: Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
12 CPDV If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works. BSB BSB: If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
Saying 26 13 CPDV My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat. BSB BSB: Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14 CPDV So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish. BSB BSB: Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
Saying 27 15 CPDV Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest. BSB BSB: Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.
16 CPDV For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil. BSB BSB: For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
Saying 28 17 CPDV When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin, BSB BSB: Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 CPDV lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him. BSB BSB: or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
Saying 29 19 CPDV Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious. BSB BSB: Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
20 CPDV For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished. BSB BSB: For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
Saying 30 21 CPDV My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors. BSB BSB: My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
22 CPDV For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them? BSB BSB: For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise 23 CPDV Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character. BSB BSB: These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 CPDV Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them. BSB BSB: Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
25 CPDV Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them. BSB BSB: but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
26 CPDV He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words. BSB BSB: An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27 CPDV Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house. BSB BSB: Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28 CPDV Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips. BSB BSB: Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29 CPDV Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work. BSB BSB: Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 CPDV I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man, BSB BSB: I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
31 CPDV and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed. BSB BSB: Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 CPDV When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline. BSB BSB: I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
33 CPDV You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest. BSB BSB: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 CPDV And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.” BSB BSB: and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.