Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou enuious against euill men, neither desire to be with them.
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 For their heart imagineth destruction, and their lippes speake mischiefe.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Through wisdome is an house builded, and with vnderstanding it is established.
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers bee filled with all precious, and pleasant riches.
By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 A wise man is strong: for a man of vnderstanding encreaseth his strength.
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 For with counsel thou shalt enterprise thy warre, and in the multitude of them that can giue counsell, is health.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Wisdome is hie to a foole: therefore he can not open his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 Hee that imagineth to doe euill, men shall call him an autour of wickednes.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 The wicked thought of a foole is sinne, and the scorner is an abomination vnto men.
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 If thou bee faint in the day of aduersitie, thy strength is small.
He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11 Deliuer them that are drawen to death: wilt thou not preserue them that are led to be slaine?
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
12 If thou say, Beholde, we knew not of it: he that pondereth the heartes, doeth not hee vnderstand it? and hee that keepeth thy soule, knoweth he it not? will not he also recompense euery man according to his workes?
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.
13 My sonne, eate hony, for it is good, and the hony combe, for it is sweete vnto thy mouth.
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdome be vnto thy soule, if thou finde it, and there shall be an ende, and thine hope shall not be cut off.
Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
15 Laye no waite, O wicked man, against the house of the righteous, and spoyle not his resting place.
Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
16 For a iust man falleth seuen times, and riseth againe: but the wicked fall into mischiefe.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Bee thou not glad when thine enemie falleth, and let not thine heart reioyce when hee stumbleth,
If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 Least the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turne his wrath from him.
For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thy selfe because of the malicious, neither be enuious at the wicked.
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 For there shall bee none ende of plagues to the euill man: the light of the wicked shall bee put out.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My sonne feare the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with them that are sedicious.
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 For their destruction shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 ALSO THESE THINGS PERTEINE TO THE WISE, It is not good to haue respect of any person in iudgement.
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.
24 He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous, him shall the people curse, and the multitude shall abhorre him.
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
25 But to them that rebuke him, shall be pleasure, and vpon them shall come the blessing of goodnesse.
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 They shall kisse the lippes of him that answereth vpright wordes.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Prepare thy worke without, and make readie thy thinges in the fielde, and after, builde thine house.
Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
28 Be not a witnes against thy neighbour without cause: for wilt thou deceiue with thy lippes?
Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
29 Say not, I wil doe to him, as he hath done to mee, I will recompence euery man according to his worke.
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.
30 I passed by the fielde of the slouthfull, and by the vineyarde of the man destitute of vnderstanding.
A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 And lo, it was al growen ouer with thornes, and nettles had couered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken downe.
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.
32 Then I behelde, and I considered it well: I looked vpon it, and receiued instruction.
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 Yet a litle sleepe, a litle slumber, a litle folding of the handes to sleepe.
[The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
34 So thy pouertie commeth as one that traueileth by the way, and thy necessitie like an armed man.
But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
