Proverbs 24
1 Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
2 Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
3 By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6 Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
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 doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
Rescue those who are being led away to death. Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
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, "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 Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are 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.
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 Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy 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 the righteous may fall seven times, but gets up again, but the wicked will stumble in adversity.
17 When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
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:
Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of 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 will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:
22 For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
23 These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
25 They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a 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 shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man 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 to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one 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 passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
I went by the field of the sluggard, 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.
Look, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall 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 well. I saw, 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:
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 your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
