Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, nor desire to be with them.
Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
2 For their heart meditates oppression, and their lips talk of mischief.
for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established,
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 and by knowledge the chambers are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise man is strong, yea, a man of knowledge increases might.
A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6 For by wise guidance thou shall make thy war, and in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool. He opens not his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
8 He who devises to do evil, men shall call him a mischief-maker.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The thought of folly is sin. And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Deliver those who are carried away to death, and hold thou back those who are ready to be slain.
Rescue those who are being led away to death. Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
12 If thou say, Behold, we did not know this, Does not he who weighs the hearts consider it? And he who keeps thy soul, does he not know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?
If you say, "Look, we did not know this;" doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste,
My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste.
14 so the knowledge of wisdom is to thy soul. If thou have found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
Likewise, know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Lay not in wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.
Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.
16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
For the righteous may fall seven times, but gets up again, but the wicked will stumble in adversity.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falls, and let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown,
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18 lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, nor be thou envious at the wicked.
Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
21 My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king, and do not associate with those who are given to change.
My son, fear Jehovah and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and the destruction from them both, who knows it?
for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
23 These also are from the wise: To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to a wicked man, Thou are righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him.
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him?
25 But to those who rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare thy work outside, and make it ready for thee in the field, and afterwards build thy house.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause, and deceive not with thy lips.
Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns. The face of it was covered with nettles, and the stone wall of it was broken down.
Look, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I beheld, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 Yet 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 sleep;
34 so thy poverty shall come as a robber, and thy want as an armed man.
so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
