Proverbs 24

1 Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

BE not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

2 For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

3 Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

6 For by wise counsel you shall make your war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he opens not his mouth in the gate.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8 He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

11 If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

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?

If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render 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 thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

14 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.

So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

16 For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles:

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 Lest the LORD see it, 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 Fret not yourself because of evil men, neither be you envious at the wicked:

Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle 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 you the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?

For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that says unto the wicked, You are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall detest him:

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 Every man shall kiss his lips that gives a right answer.

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

27 Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house.

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28 Be not a witness against your neighbour without cause; and deceive not with your lips.

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy 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, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof 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 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34 So shall your poverty come as one that travels; and your lack as an armed man.

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.