Proverbs 24
1 Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
For their heart studieth oppression, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.
6 For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
9 The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
The thought of the foolish is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
Deliver them that are carried away unto death, and those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.
12 If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this: doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his work?
13 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14 So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul: if thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he is overthrown:
18 lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; neither be thou envious at the wicked:
20 For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
For there will be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the destruction of them both?
23 Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
25 Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction.
33 You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
So shall thy poverty come as a robber; and thy want as an armed man.
