Do Not Envy Saying 20 1 WBS 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 WBS For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. BSB BSB: for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
Saying 21 3 WBS Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established: BSB BSB: By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
4 WBS And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. BSB BSB: through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
Saying 22 5 WBS A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength. BSB BSB: A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
6 WBS For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety. BSB BSB: Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
Saying 23 7 WBS 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 WBS He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. BSB BSB: He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 WBS The thought of foolishness 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 WBS If thou faintest 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 WBS If thou forbearest to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain; BSB BSB: Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
12 WBS If 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 will not he render to every 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 WBS My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honey-comb, 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 WBS So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul: when thou hast found it , then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation 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 WBS Lay not wait, O wicked man , against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy 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 WBS For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 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 WBS Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth: BSB BSB: Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 WBS 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 WBS Fret not thyself because of evil men , neither be thou envious at the wicked; BSB BSB: Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
20 WBS For there shall be no reward to the evil man ; the candle of the wicked shall be extinguished. BSB BSB: For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
Saying 30 21 WBS 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 WBS For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? BSB BSB: For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise 23 WBS These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. BSB BSB: These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 WBS He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: BSB BSB: Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
25 WBS 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 WBS Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.BSB BSB: An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27 WBS Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house. BSB BSB: Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28 WBS Be not a witness against thy neighbor 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS And lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its 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 WBS Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it , and received instruction. BSB BSB: I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
33 WBS 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 WBS So shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth; 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.