Do Not Envy Saying 20 1 DRA Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them: BSB BSB: Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
2 DRA Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits. BSB BSB: for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
Saying 21 3 DRA By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened. BSB BSB: By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
4 DRA By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth. BSB BSB: through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
Saying 22 5 DRA A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant. BSB BSB: A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
6 DRA Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety 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 DRA Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall 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 DRA He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool. BSB BSB: He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 DRA The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men. BSB BSB: A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
Saying 25 10 DRA If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished. BSB BSB: If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
11 DRA Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver. BSB BSB: Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
12 DRA If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to 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 DRA Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat: BSB BSB: Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14 DRA So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy 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 DRA Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness 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 DRA For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down 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 DRA When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice: BSB BSB: Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 DRA Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. BSB BSB: or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
Saying 29 19 DRA Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly: BSB BSB: Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
20 DRA For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. BSB BSB: For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
Saying 30 21 DRA My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters. BSB BSB: My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
22 DRA For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both? BSB BSB: For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise 23 DRA These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment. BSB BSB: These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 DRA They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them. BSB BSB: Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
25 DRA They that rebuke him, 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 DRA He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words. BSB BSB: An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27 DRA Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house. BSB BSB: Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28 DRA Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips. BSB BSB: Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29 DRA Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every 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 DRA I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man: BSB BSB: I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
31 DRA And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down. BSB BSB: Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 DRA Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction. BSB BSB: I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
33 DRA Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest: BSB BSB: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 DRA And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as 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.