Proverbs 24
1 Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
2 For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6 For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
8 Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
Rescue those who are being led away to death. Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
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.
If you say, "Look, we did not 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 Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste.
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.
Likewise, know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.
16 For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
For the righteous may fall seven times, but gets up again, but the wicked will stumble in adversity.
17 At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
18 Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
20 For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:
22 For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
23 These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
25 But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your 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.
Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
30 By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
Look, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 “A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
34 But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
