Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth oppression, and their lips talk of mischief.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 The thought of the foolish is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, 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 them that are carried away unto death, and those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this: doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his work?
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.
13 My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
14 So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul: if thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; spoil 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 a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he is overthrown:
If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
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 at the wicked:
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 For there will be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the destruction of them both?
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 These also are [sayings] of 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 judgement.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
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 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
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, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
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.
32 Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction.
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
[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 So shall thy poverty come as a robber; and thy want as an armed man.
But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
