Proverbs 24
1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
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. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your 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].
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
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 say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
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 you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will 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.
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy 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 a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
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 displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be 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 reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
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 also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement is not good.
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
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 work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive 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.
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
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.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
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 sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
