Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 Don't be envious of evil people, and don't try to make friends with them.
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Don't you be envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
2 Causing trouble is all they ever think about; every time they open their mouth someone is going to be hurt.
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For their hearts plot violence, And their lips talk about mischief.
3 Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding.
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Through wisdom a house is built; By understanding it is established;
4 Where there is knowledge, the rooms are furnished with valuable, beautiful things.
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By knowledge the rooms are filled With all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Being wise is better than being strong; yes, knowledge is more important than strength.
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A wise man has great power; And a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6 After all, you must make careful plans before you fight a battle, and the more good advice you get, the more likely you are to win.
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For by wise guidance you wage your war; And victory is in many advisors.
7 Wise sayings are too deep for stupid people to understand. They have nothing to say when important matters are being discussed.
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Wisdom is too high for a fool: He doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
8 If you are always planning evil, you will earn a reputation as a troublemaker.
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One who plots to do evil Will be called a schemer.
9 Any scheme a fool thinks up is sinful. People hate a person who has nothing but scorn for others.
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The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 If you are weak in a crisis, you are weak indeed.
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If you falter in the time of trouble, Your strength is small.
11 Don't hesitate to rescue someone who is about to be executed unjustly.
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Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12 You may say that it is none of your business, but God knows and judges your motives. He keeps watch on you; he knows. And he will reward you according to what you do.
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If you say, "Behold, we didn't know this;" Doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 My child, eat honey; it is good. And just as honey from the comb is sweet on your tongue,
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My son, eat honey, for it is good; The droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
14 you may be sure that wisdom is good for the soul. Get wisdom and you have a bright future.
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So you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; If you have found it, then will there be a reward, Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Don't be like the wicked who scheme to rob honest people or to take away their homes.
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Don't lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don't destroy his resting-place:
16 No matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again; but disaster destroys the wicked.
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For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Don't be glad when your enemies meet disaster, and don't rejoice when they stumble.
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Don't rejoice when your enemy falls. Don't let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18 The Lord will know if you are gloating, and he will not like it; and then maybe he won't punish them.
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Lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Don't let evil people worry you; don't be envious of them.
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Don't fret yourself because of evildoers; Neither be envious of the wicked:
20 A wicked person has no future - nothing to look forward to.
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For there will be no reward to the evil man; And the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
21 Have reverence for the Lord, my child, and honor the king. Have nothing to do with people who rebel against them;
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My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don't join those who are rebellious:
22 such people could be ruined in a moment. Do you realize the disaster that God or the king can cause?
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For their calamity will rise suddenly; The destruction from them both -- who knows?
23 The wise have also said these things: It is wrong for judges to be prejudiced.
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These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 If they pronounce a guilty person innocent, they will be cursed and hated by everyone.
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He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" Peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him --
25 Judges who punish the guilty, however, will be prosperous and enjoy a good reputation.
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But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, And a rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.
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An honest answer Is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Don't build your house and establish a home until your fields are ready, and you are sure that you can earn a living.
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Prepare your work outside. Make it ready for you in the field. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Don't give evidence against others without good reason, or say misleading things about them.
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Don't be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don't deceive with your lips.
29 Don't say, "I'll do to them just what they did to me! I'll get even with them!"
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Don't say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
30 I walked through the fields and vineyards of a lazy, stupid person.
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I went by the field of the sluggard, By the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 They were full of thorn bushes and overgrown with weeds. The stone wall around them had fallen down.
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Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.
32 I looked at this, thought about it, and learned a lesson from it:
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Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 Go ahead and take your nap; go ahead and sleep. Fold your hands and rest awhile,
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A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;
34 but while you are asleep, poverty will attack you like an armed robber.
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So shall your poverty come as a robber, And your want as an armed man.