< Proverbs 24 >

1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
Don't be jealous of evil people; don't long to spend time with them,
2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
for they think up cruel plans and discuss how to cause trouble.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
A house is built by wisdom; its foundation is made secure through understanding.
4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
Its rooms are filled by knowledge with all kinds of valuable and beautiful objects.
5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
If you have wisdom, you are strong; if you have knowledge, your power increases,
6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
for with wise guidance you can go to war; you will be victorious by having many good advisors.
7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
Wisdom goes over the heads of stupid people; they have nothing to contribute when important matters are discussed.
8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
Anyone who plans to do evil will be seen as a troublemaker.
9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
Plans thought up by stupid people are sinful. Everyone hates those who are scornful of others.
10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
If you give up in times of trouble, it shows how weak you are.
11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
Rescue those who are being led away to be executed; save those who are stumbling on their way to be slaughtered.
12 But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
If you say, “Look, we didn't know anything about this,” don't you think the God who judges your motives will see what's happening? He who watches over you knows, and he will pay people back for what they've done.
13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
My son, eating honey is good for you; the honeycomb tastes sweet.
14 Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
In the same way, you should know that wisdom is good for you; if you find it, there will be a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
Don't be like a criminal waiting to ambush the home of good people; don't attack the place where they live.
16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
Those who do right may fall down seven times, and still get up again; but the wicked are brought down by disaster.
17 If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
Don't celebrate when your enemies fall; don't be glad when they trip up,
18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
otherwise when the Lord sees it, he'll be unhappy with you and won't punish your enemies as he planned.
19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
Don't get all upset over the wicked, or be jealous of those who do wrong,
20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
for evil people have no future—the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
My son, honor the Lord and the king, and don't join those who are rebellious,
22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
for disaster will suddenly fall on them. Who knows how the Lord and king will punish them?
23 And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement.
These are more sayings of the wise: Showing favoritism when passing judgment is wrong.
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
Those who tell the guilty, “You're innocent,” will be cursed by the people and hated by the nation,
25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
while those who convict the guilty will be appreciated, and will receive a rich blessing.
26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
An honest answer is a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
Do the work you need to do outside first, then prepare and sow your fields, and only after that start building your house.
28 Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
Don't testify against your neighbors without having a good reason, and don't tell lies.
29 Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
Don't say to yourself, “I'm going to do to him what he did to me! I'll pay him back for what he's done!”
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
I walked past the field of a lazy man, past a vineyard of someone with no sense.
31 If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
It was all overgrown with thorns, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall had fallen down.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
As I looked I thought about it, and what I saw taught me a lesson:
33 [The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
You may say, “Please, just a little more sleep, a little longer snooze, a little more folding of the arms to rest”—
34 But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
and poverty will attack you like a robber, destitution like an armed warrior.

< Proverbs 24 >