Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 Don't envy evil people, and don't long to be with them.
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Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,
2 Their hearts are focused on violence, and their lips speak of trouble.
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for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established.
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By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
4 By knowledge rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant wealth.
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by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise person is mightier than a strong one; a knowledgeable person than a powerful one.
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A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6 You should make war with guidance; victory comes with many counselors.
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for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is beyond foolish people. They don't open their mouths in the gate.
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Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Those who plot evil will be called master schemers.
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Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The scheming of fools is sin; people detest mockers.
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The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
10 If you show yourself weak on a day of distress, your strength is too small.
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If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
11 Rescue those being taken off to death; and from those staggering to the slaughter, don't hold back.
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Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, "Look, we didn't know about it," the one who weighs hearts—doesn't he understand? The one who protects your life—he knows. He makes people pay for their actions.
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If you say, “Behold, we did not know this, ” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
13 My child, eat honey, for it is good. The honeycomb is sweet in your mouth.
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My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is like that for your whole being. If you find it, there is a future. Your hope won't be cut off.
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Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Wicked one, don't wait secretly at the home of the righteous. Don't destroy their dwelling.
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Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home;
16 The righteous may fall seven times but still get up, but the wicked will stumble into trouble.
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for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
17 When your enemies fall, don't rejoice. When they stumble, don't let your heart be glad,
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Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and he will turn his anger from them.
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lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
19 Don't get fighting mad at evil people; don't be envious of the wicked.
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Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked,
20 Indeed, there is no future for the evil; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
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for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 Fear the LORD, my child, as well as the king. Don't associate with those who are rebellious.
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My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22 Disaster comes suddenly from them. Who can know the ruin that both can bring?
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for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
23 These are also the sayings of the wise: Partiality in judgment isn't good.
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These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.
24 Those who say to the guilty, "You are innocent"— the people will curse them. Nations will condemn them.
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Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right, ” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25 But it will go well for those who rebuke them. A rich blessing will come to them.
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but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.
26 Those who speak honestly are like those who kiss on the lips.
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Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.
27 Get your outside work done; make preparations in the field; then you can build your house.
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Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.
28 Don't be a witness against your neighbor without reason; don't deceive with your lips.
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Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Don't say, "I'll do to them what they did to me. I'll pay them back for their actions."
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Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done. ”
30 I happened upon the field of a lazy person, by the vineyard of one with no sense.
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I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
31 Thorns grew all over it; weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was falling down.
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and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 I observed this and took it to heart; I saw it and learned a lesson.
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Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
33 "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little lying down with folded arms"—
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come on you like a prowler, deprivation like a man with a shield.
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and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.