Proverbs 24
1 Do not be envious of those who are evil, nor desire to associate with them,
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
2 because their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about trouble.
For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established.
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
5 A warrior of wisdom is strong, and a man of knowledge increases his strength;
A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
6 for by wise direction you can wage your war and with many advisors there is victory.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
8 There is one who plans to do evil— people call him a master of schemes.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 A foolish plan is sin and men despise a mocker.
The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 If you become weak with fear in the day of trouble, then your strength is small.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death and hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
12 If you say, “Behold, we knew nothing about this,” does not the one who weighs the heart understand what you are saying? The one who guards your life, does he not know it? Will God not give to each one what he deserves?
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.
13 My son, eat honey because it is good, because the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
14 Such is wisdom for your soul— if you find it, there will be a future and your hope will not be cut off.
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.
15 Do not lie in wait like the wicked person who attacks the house of the righteous person. Do not destroy his home!
Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
16 For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again, but wicked people are brought down by calamity.
For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 Do not celebrate when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 or Yahweh will see and disapprove and turn away his wrath from him.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Do not worry because of evildoers, and do not envy wicked people,
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 for the evil person has no future and the lamp of wicked people will go out.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 Fear Yahweh, and fear the king, my son; do not associate with those who rebel against them,
My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
22 for suddenly their disaster will come and who knows the extent of the destruction that will come from both of them?
For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
23 These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging a case at law is not good.
These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 Whoever says to the wicked person, “You are a righteous person,” will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 But those who discipline the wicked will have delight and gifts of goodness will come to them.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 The one who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Prepare your outdoor work, and make everything ready for yourself in the field; after that, build your house.
Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
28 Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause and do not deceive with your lips.
Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
29 Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me; I will pay him back for what he has done.”
Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 I went by the field of a lazy man, past the vineyard of the man having no sense.
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
31 Thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 and poverty comes marching upon you, and your needs like an armed soldier.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
