Proverbs 24
1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
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 too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
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 thou shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.
13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
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 obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a [happy] future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both 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.
These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
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 without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
28 Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy 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.
Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
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, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
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.
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
