Proverbs 24
1 Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] 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 canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11 Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help].
12 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.
But if thou shouldest 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 Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened.
14 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.
Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee.
15 Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste 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 though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
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 Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
25 But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.
28 Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips.
29 Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
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 By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
32 And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 “A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
[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 But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier.
