Do Not Envy

Saying 20

1Do not envy wicked men

or desire their company;

2for their hearts devise violence,

and their lips declare trouble.

Saying 21

3By wisdom a house is built

and by understanding it is established;

4through knowledge its rooms are filled

with every precious and beautiful treasure.

Saying 22

5A wise man is strong,

and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.

6Only with sound guidance should you wage war,

and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

Saying 23

7Wisdom is too high for a fool;

he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.

Saying 24

8He who plots evil

will be called a schemer.

9A foolish scheme is sin,

and a mocker is detestable to men.

Saying 25

10If you faint in the day of distress,

how small is your strength!

11Rescue those being led away to death,

and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,”

does not He who weighs hearts consider it?

Does not the One who guards your life know?

Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Saying 26

13Eat honey, my son, for it is good,

and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

14Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul.

If you find it, there is a future for you,

and your hope will never be cut off.

Saying 27

15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous;

do not destroy his resting place.

16For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up;

but the wicked stumble in bad times.

Saying 28

17Do not gloat when your enemy falls,

and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

18or the LORD will see and disapprove,

and turn His wrath away from him.

Saying 29

19Do not fret over evildoers,

and do not be envious of the wicked.

20For the evil man has no future;

the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Saying 30

21My son, fear the LORD and the king,

and do not associate with the rebellious.

22For they will bring sudden destruction.

Who knows what ruin they can bring?