Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 For their heart studieth oppression, and their lips talk of mischief.
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The thought of the foolish is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Deliver them that are carried away unto death, and those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
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?
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 thou honey, for it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
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.
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 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he is overthrown:
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
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 at the wicked:
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no reward to the evil man; the lamp 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 thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the destruction of them both?
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement is not good.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good 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 He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive 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.
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
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, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction.
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 So shall thy poverty come as a robber; and thy want as an armed man.
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
