1. Be not envious of evil men, And desire not to be with them.
2. For destruction doth their heart meditate, And perverseness do their lips speak.
3. By wisdom is a house builded, And by understanding it establisheth itself.
4. And by knowledge the inner parts are filled, [With] all precious and pleasant wealth.
5. Mighty [is] the wise in strength, And a man of knowledge is strengthening power,
6. For by plans thou makest for thyself war, And deliverance [is] in a multitude of counsellors.
7. Wisdom [is] high for a fool, In the gate he openeth not his mouth.
8. Whoso is devising to do evil, Him they call a master of wicked thoughts.
9. The thought of folly [is] sin, And an abomination to man [is] a scorner.
10. Thou hast shewed thyself weak in a day of adversity, Straitened is thy power,
11. If [from] delivering those taken to death, And those slipping to the slaughter--thou keepest back.
12. When thou sayest, `Lo, we knew not this.' Is not the Ponderer of hearts He who understandeth? And the Keeper of thy soul He who knoweth? And He hath rendered to man according to his work.