Proverbs 24
1 Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
Do not be envious of those who are evil, nor desire to associate with them,
2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
because their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established.
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
A warrior of wisdom is strong, and a man of knowledge increases his strength;
6 Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
for by wise direction you can wage your war and with many advisors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
There is one who plans to do evil— people call him a master of schemes.
9 A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
A foolish plan is sin and men despise a mocker.
10 If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
If you become weak with fear in the day of trouble, then your strength is small.
11 Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
Rescue those who are being taken away to death and hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
If you say, “Behold, we knew nothing about this,” does not the one who weighs the heart understand what you are saying? The one who guards your life, does he not know it? Will God not give to each one what he deserves?
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
My son, eat honey because it is good, because the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
Such is wisdom for your soul— if you find it, there will be a future and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.
Do not lie in wait like the wicked person who attacks the house of the righteous person. Do not destroy his home!
16 For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again, but wicked people are brought down by calamity.
17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
Do not celebrate when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
or Yahweh will see and disapprove and turn away his wrath from him.
19 Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
Do not worry because of evildoers, and do not envy wicked people,
20 For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
for the evil person has no future and the lamp of wicked people will go out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
Fear Yahweh, and fear the king, my son; do not associate with those who rebel against them,
22 For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
for suddenly their disaster will come and who knows the extent of the destruction that will come from both of them?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging a case at law is not good.
24 Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”— peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
Whoever says to the wicked person, “You are a righteous person,” will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
But those who discipline the wicked will have delight and gifts of goodness will come to them.
26 An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
The one who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
Prepare your outdoor work, and make everything ready for yourself in the field; after that, build your house.
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me; I will pay him back for what he has done.”
30 I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
I went by the field of a lazy man, past the vineyard of the man having no sense.
31 Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
Thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
and poverty comes marching upon you, and your needs like an armed soldier.
