Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them.

Do not envy men of evil and do not desire to be with them.

For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

For their hearts contemplate spoil and their lips speak deceit.

Through wisdom a house is built; and by understanding it is established:

Let a house be built for wisdom's sake and let it be established for the sake of understanding.

and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

And for the sake of knowledge let its chambers be filled with all dear and stately treasures.

A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge increases strength.

The wise man is [always] steadfast and the man of knowledge increases strength.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is victory.

For through [wisdom's] stratagems, you can wage war [against the evil inclination], and there is salvation in the increase of counsel.

Wisdom it too high for a fool: he does not open his mouth in the gate.

Like a precious [(unattainable)] stone is wisdom to the fool, [and, therefore,] he will not open his mouth in the gate [of Torah. But the wise man learns a little each day].

He who devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

One who thinks to do evil will be called a plotter of wrong.

The devising of folly is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

Plotting wrong is sin and levity abominates a man [(to the L-rd and to his fellow men)].

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small:

If you have weakened [in helping your friend] in a day of affliction, your power [(to help yourself at such a time)] will be straitened.

if thou forbear to rescue those who are drawn to death, and those who are ready to be slain;

[If you have weakened] from helping those who have been consigned to death, and if you desist from [helping] those who are inclined towards destruction.

if thou sayst, Behold, we knew it not, does not he who ponders the heart consider it? and he who keeps thy soul, does he not know it? and shall he not render to every man according to his works?

Lest you say: "We did not know this" — does He who resides in the midst of hearts not understand? and does the Protector of your soul not know? And He recompenses a man according to his deeds.

My son, eat honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

Just as honey [-food] is good, my son, and just as [you put] drippings of sweet things to your palate,

know that such is wisdom for thy soul! when hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

So, know wisdom for your soul. If you have found it, it has a [goodly] consummation, and your hope [of reward] will not be cut off.

Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not plunder his resting place:

Do not lurk, you evildoer, near the habitation of the righteous one [(hoping to secure it when he falls upon hard times)]. Do not steal the place where he reclines.

for a just man falls seven times, and yet rises up again: but the wicked stumble into mischief.

For [though] the righteous one fall seven times, he will rise [again], and the wicked will stumble [(not to rise again)] when evil [comes upon them].

Do not rejoice when thy enemy falls, and do not let thy heart be glad when he stumbles:

When your foe falls, do not rejoice, and when he stumbles, let your heart not be merry.

lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Lest the L-rd see, and it be evil in His eyes, and He turn His wrath from him [onto you].

Fret not thyself because of evil men, nor be envious at the wicked;

Do not emulate evildoers; do not envy the wicked.

for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

For there will be no endurance to evil; the light of the wicked will be extinguished.

My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and do not meddle with them who are given to change:

Fear the L-rd, my son, and the king [— so long as the second does not detract from the first]. Do not mingle with variegators [(those who posit a variety of deities)].

for their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?

For their destruction will suddenly arise, and who knows [the extent of] the breaking of both [the idols and the idolators]?

These words also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

These things, too, [(which follow)] are intended for the wise [that sit in judgment], that they not show favoritism in judgment, [for] it is not good [to do so].

He who says to the wicked, Thou art in the right; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

He who says to the wicked one: "You are righteous" will be cursed by the peoples, will be anathematized by the nations.

but those who rebuke the wicked shall have delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

But for the reprovers it will be accounted pleasant [(to say: "You are essentially good, but …")], and a goodly blessing will come upon them.

Like a kiss on the lips, it is when one gives a right answer.

[All] lips should kiss one who returns right answers.

Prepare thy work outside, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.

Prepare your work outside [(Acquire fields and vineyards)], and put livestock in your field, and then, build your house [i.e., take a wife].

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Do not offer vain testimony for your friend, that you [not] be enticed [for him] by your lips.

Do not say, I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man according to his deeds.

Do not say: "As he has done for me, so will I do for him — I will reward a man according to his acts."

I went by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;

I passed by the field of a lazy man [(one who does not review his learning)], and by the vineyard of a man lacking a heart.

and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered it over, and its stone wall was broken down.

And, behold, it was all grown over with thorns; nettles had covered its face, and its stone wall was broken down. [(If one does not review his learning, first he forgets the broad outlines, then he confuses the statements of the sages, interchanging "clean" with "unclean," and vice versa, and, ultimately, "destroying the world.")]

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

And when I saw this, I set my heart [to understand it]; and when I saw, I took instruction:

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to recline,

so shall thy poverty come like a marauder; and thy want like an armed man.

Then your impoverishments will come as a runner, and your wants, as an armed man.