Proverbs 24
1 Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
Have no envy for evil men, or any desire to be with them:
2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.
For the purposes of their hearts are destruction, and their lips are talking of trouble.
3 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
The building of a house is by wisdom, and by reason it is made strong:
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
And by knowledge its rooms are full of all dear and pleasing things.
5 A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge makes strength greater.
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
For by wise guiding you will overcome in war: and in a number of wise guides there is salvation.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom is outside the power of the foolish: he keeps his mouth shut in the public place.
8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
He whose purposes are bad will be named a man of evil designs.
9 The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
The purpose of the foolish is sin: and the hater of authority is disgusting to others.
10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
If you give way in the day of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death. Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
Be the saviour of those who are given up to death, and do not keep back help from those who are slipping to destruction.
12 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?
If you say, See, we had no knowledge of this: does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste.
My son, take honey, for it is good; and the flowing honey, which is sweet to your taste:
14 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.
So let your desire be for wisdom: if you have it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.
Do not keep a secret watch, O evil-doer, against the fields of the upright man, or send destruction on his resting-place:
16 For the righteous may fall seven times, but gets up again, but the wicked will stumble in adversity.
For an upright man, after falling seven times, will get up again: but trouble is the downfall of the evil.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:
18 lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
For fear that the Lord may see it, and it may be evil in his eyes, and his wrath may be turned away from him.
19 Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
Do not be troubled because of evil-doers, or have envy of sinners:
20 for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
For there will be no future for the evil man; the light of sinners will be put out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:
My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?
For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?
23 These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—
He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.
27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips.
Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.
29 Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;
31 Look, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got teaching from it.
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;
A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
34 so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.
So loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man.
