Proverbs 24
1 Don't be jealous of evil people; don't long to spend time with them,
Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 for they think up cruel plans and discuss how to cause trouble.
For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 A house is built by wisdom; its foundation is made secure through understanding.
Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
4 Its rooms are filled by knowledge with all kinds of valuable and beautiful objects.
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 If you have wisdom, you are strong; if you have knowledge, your power increases,
A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.
6 for with wise guidance you can go to war; you will be victorious by having many good advisors.
For by wise counsel you shall make your war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom goes over the heads of stupid people; they have nothing to contribute when important matters are discussed.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he opens not his mouth in the gate.
8 Anyone who plans to do evil will be seen as a troublemaker.
He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 Plans thought up by stupid people are sinful. Everyone hates those who are scornful of others.
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If you give up in times of trouble, it shows how weak you are.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being led away to be executed; save those who are stumbling on their way to be slaughtered.
If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 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.
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 My son, eating honey is good for you; the honeycomb tastes sweet.
My son, eat you honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste:
14 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.
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul: when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Don't be like a criminal waiting to ambush the home of good people; don't attack the place where they live.
Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 Those who do right may fall down seven times, and still get up again; but the wicked are brought down by disaster.
For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Don't celebrate when your enemies fall; don't be glad when they trip up,
Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles:
18 otherwise when the Lord sees it, he'll be unhappy with you and won't punish your enemies as he planned.
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Don't get all upset over the wicked, or be jealous of those who do wrong,
Fret not yourself because of evil men, neither be you envious at the wicked:
20 for evil people have no future—the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, honor the Lord and the king, and don't join those who are rebellious,
My son, fear you the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 for disaster will suddenly fall on them. Who knows how the Lord and king will punish them?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?
23 These are more sayings of the wise: Showing favoritism when passing judgment is wrong.
These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Those who tell the guilty, “You're innocent,” will be cursed by the people and hated by the nation,
He that says to the wicked, You are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 while those who convict the guilty will be appreciated, and will receive a rich blessing.
But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come on them.
26 An honest answer is a kiss on the lips.
Every man shall kiss his lips that gives a right answer.
27 Do the work you need to do outside first, then prepare and sow your fields, and only after that start building your house.
Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house.
28 Don't testify against your neighbors without having a good reason, and don't tell lies.
Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause; and deceive not with your lips.
29 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!”
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 walked past the field of a lazy man, past a vineyard of someone with no sense.
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 It was all overgrown with thorns, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall had fallen down.
And, see, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 As I looked I thought about it, and what I saw taught me a lesson:
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked on it, and received instruction.
33 You may say, “Please, just a little more sleep, a little longer snooze, a little more folding of the arms to rest”—
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 and poverty will attack you like a robber, destitution like an armed warrior.
So shall your poverty come as one that travels; and your want as an armed man.
