ECB(i)
1 Neither be envious against evil men nor desire to be with them:
2 for their heart meditates devastation and their lips word of toil.
3 By wisdom, the house is built; and by discernment, established;
4 and by knowledge, the chambers filled with all esteemed and pleasant wealth.
5 The wise are mighty in strength; yes, a man of knowledge strengthens force.
6 For by counsels, you work war; and in abundance of counsellors, there is salvation.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; he opens not his mouth in the portal.
8 Whoever fabricates to vilify they call a master of intrigue.
9 The intrigue of folly is sin; and the scorner is an abhorrence to humanity.
10 If you slacken in the day of tribulation, your force is tribulated.
11 If you spare to rescue them who are taken to death and them who totter from the slaughter;
12 if you say, Behold, we knew it not; Discerns he not, who gauges the heart? Knows he not, who guards your soul? - who returns to humanity according to his deeds?
13 My son, eat honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb - sweet to your palate;
14 thus is the knowledge of wisdom to your soul; when you find, then there is a finality and your hope is not cut off.
15 Lurk not, O wicked, against the habitation of rest of the just; ravage not his repose:
16 for the just fall and rise by sevens; and the wicked fall into evil.
17 Neither cheer when your enemy falls nor twirl your heart when he stumbles;
18 lest Yah Veh sees it and it vilifies in his eye and he turns away his wrath from him.
19 Neither inflame at vilifiers, nor be envious of the wicked;
20 for there is no finality to the evil; the lamp of the wicked extinguishes.
21 My son, awe Yah Veh and the sovereign; meddle not with them who reiterate;
22 for their calamity rises suddenly; and who knows the calamity of them both?
23 These also to the wise: It is not good to recognize faces in judgment.
24 He who says to the wicked, You are just - the people pierce, nations enrage at him;
25 and they who reprove him are pleased; and a good blessing comes on them.
26 He kisses the lips that respond straightforward words.
27 Prepare your work in the outways and ready it in the field; and afterward build your house.
28 Neither witness against your friend gratuitously; nor entice with your lips.
29 Say not, I work to him as he worked to me; - return to the man according to his deeds.
30 I passed by the field of the man of sloth and by the vineyard of the human lacking heart;
31 and behold, it all ascends with thistles and nettles cover the face and the stone wall is broken down.
32 Then I see and set my heart well - I see and take discipline.
33 A little sleep; a little drowsiness; a little clasping of the hands to lie down:
34 and so be your poverty as one who travels; and your lack as a man with buckler.