1 Do not be envious of evil men {ra’ah: moral corruption}, and do not desire {tit’av: intense longing} to be with them.
2 For their heart meditates {yehgeh: silent plotting} on destruction, and their lips speak of trouble {amal: harmful mischief}.
3 By wisdom{chokhmah: applied insight} a house is built, and by understanding it is established{yitkonan: enduring stability}.
4 And by knowledge {daat: practical wisdom}, the chambers will be filled with all precious and pleasant wealth {hon: material assets}.
5 A wise {chakam: skillful in understanding} man is strong, and a man of knowledge {da-at: discerning insight} increases power.
6 For by wise strategies {tachbulot: deliberate plans} you will make war for yourself, and deliverance comes through many counselors {yoets: those offering guidance}.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; at the gate {sha'ar: public assembly point} he does not open his mouth {pihu: organ of speech}.
8 One who plots {mechashev: one who plans} evil will be called a master of schemes {mezimot: cunning plans} by others.
9 The scheme of foolishness {ivvelet: moral stupidity} is sin, and a scoffer is an abomination {toevat: something detestable} to man.
10 If you have become slack {hitrapita: become lax} in the day of trouble, your strength is narrow {tsar: restricted capacity}.
11 Rescue those being taken {lequkhim: forcibly carried away} to death, and do not hold back those tottering {umatim: staggering toward ruin} to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not He {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} who weighs hearts understand? And He who guards your soul {nefesh: inner person}—does He not know? And will He not repay each person according to his work?
13 Eat, my son, honey {devash: natural sweet substance}, for it is good, and honeycomb, which is sweet upon your palate {chikekha: roof of mouth}.
14 So know wisdom for your soul; if you have found it, then there is a future {acharít: destined outcome}, and your hope {tikvah: expectant longing} will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in ambush, O wicked man, for the dwelling {lin̆nēwēh: protected home} of the righteous; do not devastate his resting place {ribṣōw: place of repose}.
16 For a righteous person {tsaddiq: one who is just} may fall seven times, yet he rises each time; but the wicked {wrshaim: morally corrupt} stumble in calamity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy {oyev: adversary} falls, and do not let your heart {lev: inner person} be glad when he stumbles.
18 Lest the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Arbiter} see it and deem it evil in His eyes {einav: perspective of discernment}, and turn His anger away from him.
19 Do not fret at the evildoers {mere’im: those who do wrong}, and do not envy the wicked {resha’im: morally corrupt ones}.
20 There will be no destiny {akharit: final outcome} for the evil one, and the lamp of the wicked {resha'im: morally corrupt} will be extinguished.
21 My son, fear the LORD {YHWH, Supreme Authority} and the king. Do not join with the changers {shonim: ones who alter established order}.
22 For their calamity{eidam: sudden disaster} will arise suddenly, and the ruin{ufid: utter devastation} of both of them—who knows?
23 These also are for the wise: showing partiality {panim: faces, outward appearance} in judgment is not good {tov: ethically right}.
24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are just {tsaddiq: righteous},” peoples will curse him, nations will abhor {yizamuhu: hold in contempt} him.
25 But it will be pleasant for those who reprove {mokhichim: moral correctors}, and upon them a blessing of good will come {tov: intrinsic goodness}.
26 He who responds with upright {nekhochim: morally sound} words is like a kiss on the lips {sefatayim: direct, intimate speech}.
27 Prepare your work outside, and make it ready {attedah: arrange in order} in the field for yourself; afterward, you shall build your house {beyt: dwelling place}.
28 Do not serve as a witness {ed: legal testimony} against your neighbor without cause, and do not mislead with your lips {sefataim: verbal speech}.
29 Do not say, “Just as {ka’asher: precise comparison} he did to me, so I will do to him; I will repay the man according to his work {pe‘ulah: deed}.”
30 I passed by the field of a lazy man {atzel: negligent}, and by the vineyard of a man lacking heart {lev: understanding}.
31 And behold, it was all overgrown with thorns {kimshonim: invasive weeds}, its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone fence {geder: boundary structure} was broken down.
32 And I looked and set my heart {libbi: inner self} to it; I saw and received instruction {mussar: moral correction}.
33 Just a little sleep, just a little slumber {tenumot: brief dozing}, just a little folding {chibuk: act of drawing together} of the hands for rest.
34 And your poverty {reishekha: destitution} will come like a wanderer, and your lack, like an armed man {magen: armed attacker}.