Do not be envious of evil men;
Neither desire to be with them:
2For their hearts plot violence,
And their lips talk about mischief.
3Through wisdom a house is built;
By understanding it is established;
4By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all rare and beautiful treasure.
5A wise man has great power;
And a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6For by wise guidance you wage your war;
And victory is in many advisors.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool:
He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8One who plots to do evil
Will be called a schemer.
9The schemes of folly are sin.
The mocker is detested by men.
10If you falter in the time of trouble,
Your strength is small.
11Rescue those who are being led away to death!
Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this;“
Does not he who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does not he know it?
Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13My son, eat honey, for it is good;
The droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
14So you shall know wisdom to be to your soul;
If you have found it, then there will be a reward,
Your hope will not be cut off.
15Do not lay in wait, wicked man, against the home of the righteous.
Do not destroy his resting-place:
16For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again;
But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls.
Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18Lest Allah see it, and it displease him,
And he turn away his wrath from him.
19Do not fret yourself because of evildoers;
Neither be envious of the wicked:
20For there will be no reward to the evil man;
And the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
21My son, fear Allah and the king.
Do not join those who are rebellious:
22For their calamity will rise suddenly;
The destruction from them both–who knows?
23These also are sayings of the wise.
To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous;“
Peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him–
25But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
And a rich blessing will come on them.
26An honest answer
Is like a kiss on the lips.
27Prepare your work outside,
And get your fields ready.
Afterwards, build your house.
28Do not be a witness against your neighbour without cause.
Do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.“
30I went by the field of the sluggard,
By the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.
Its surface was covered with nettles,
And its stone wall was broken down.
32Then I saw, and considered well.
I saw, and received instruction:
33A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep;
34So shall your poverty come as a robber,
And your want as an armed man.