Proverbs 24
1 Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be 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; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 For by wise counsel you shall make your war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he opens not 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 He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11 If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
12 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?
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 son, eat you honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste:
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
14 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.
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 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil 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 just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles:
If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away 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 yourself because of evil men, neither be you envious at the wicked:
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear you the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that says to the wicked, You are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come on them.
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that gives a right answer.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your 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 witness against your neighbor without cause; and deceive not with your lips.
Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
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 went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 And, see, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
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 saw, and considered it well: I looked on it, and received instruction.
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
[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 shall your poverty come as one that travels; and your want as an armed man.
But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
