New Living Translation NLT
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.
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Don't you be envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
2 For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.
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For their hearts plot violence, And their lips talk about mischief.
3 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
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Through wisdom a house is built; By understanding it is established;
4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
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By knowledge the rooms are filled With all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.
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A wise man has great power; And a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6 So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.
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For by wise guidance you wage your war; And victory is in many advisors.
7 Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.
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Wisdom is too high for a fool: He doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
8 A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
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One who plots to do evil Will be called a schemer.
9 The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.
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The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.
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If you falter in the time of trouble, Your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.
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Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
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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, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
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My son, eat honey, for it is good; The droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.
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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 wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.
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Don't lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don't destroy his resting-place:
16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow 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 rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy 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 For the LORD will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.
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Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked.
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Don't fret yourself because of evildoers; Neither be envious of the wicked:
20 For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
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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 My child, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,
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My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don't join those who are rebellious:
22 for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the LORD and the king?
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For their calamity will rise suddenly; The destruction from them both -- who knows?
23 Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
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These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
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He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" Peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him --
25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.
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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 like a kiss of friendship.
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An honest answer Is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.
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Prepare your work outside. Make it ready for you in the field. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them.
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Don't be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don't deceive with your lips.
29 And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done 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 by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.
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I went by the field of the sluggard, By the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken 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 Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:
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Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
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A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;
34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity 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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.