More Sayings of the Wise

23Here are some further sayings of the wise:

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.

24A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”

will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.

25But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;

rich blessings will be showered on them.

26An honest answer

is like a kiss of friendship.

27Do your planning and prepare your fields

before building your house.

28Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause;

don’t lie about them.

29And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me!

I’ll get even with them!”

30I walked by the field of a lazy person,

the vineyard of one with no common sense.

31I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.

It was covered with weeds,

and its walls were broken down.

32Then, as I looked and thought about it,

I learned this lesson:

33A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest—

34then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;

scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.