Do Not Envy Saying 20 1 RV Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. BSB BSB: Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
2 RV For their heart studieth oppression, and their lips talk of mischief. BSB BSB: for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
Saying 21 3 RV Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: BSB BSB: By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
4 RV And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches. BSB BSB: through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
Saying 22 5 RV A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might. BSB BSB: A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
6 RV For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. BSB BSB: Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
Saying 23 7 RV Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. BSB BSB: Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
Saying 24 8 RV He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person. BSB BSB: He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 RV The thought of the foolish is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. BSB BSB: A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
Saying 25 10 RV If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. BSB BSB: If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
11 RV Deliver them that are carried away unto death, and those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back. BSB BSB: Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
12 RV If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this: doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his work? 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 RV My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: BSB BSB: Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14 RV So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul: if thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off. 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 RV Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: BSB BSB: Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.
16 RV For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked are overthrown by calamity. 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 RV Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he is overthrown: BSB BSB: Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 RV Lest the LORD see it, 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 RV Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; neither be thou envious at the wicked: BSB BSB: Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
20 RV For there will be no reward to the evil man; 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 RV My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: BSB BSB: My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
22 RV For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the destruction of them both? BSB BSB: For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise 23 RV These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good. BSB BSB: These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 RV He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him: BSB BSB: Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
25 RV But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good 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 RV He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer. BSB BSB: An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27 RV Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house. BSB BSB: Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28 RV Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. BSB BSB: Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29 RV Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man 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 RV I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; BSB BSB: I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
31 RV And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. BSB BSB: Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 RV Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction. BSB BSB: I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
33 RV Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:BSB BSB: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 RV So shall thy poverty come as a robber; and thy want 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.