Proverbs 24
1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
12 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.
If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
14 Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
17 If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
23 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.
Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
27 Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
28 Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
29 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.
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
31 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.
and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
33 [The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
34 But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
