Proverbs 24
1 Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
4 By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength.
6 Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
For by wise counsel you shall make your war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he opens not his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
11 Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.
If you say, Behold, we knew it not; does not he that ponders the heart consider it? and he that keeps your soul, does not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13 Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
My son, eat you honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste:
14 So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto your soul: when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles:
18 Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
Fret not yourself because of evil men, neither be you envious at the wicked:
20 For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
My son, fear you the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?
23 These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
He that says unto the wicked, You are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall detest him:
25 They that rebuke him, 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 answereth right words.
Every man shall kiss his lips that gives a right answer.
27 Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house.
28 Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
Be not a witness against your neighbour without cause; and deceive not with your lips.
29 Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the 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 all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
So shall your poverty come as one that travels; and your lack as an armed man.
