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 destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be 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; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in 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 shall be called a mischievous person.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 The thought of foolishness 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 faintest 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 If thou refraineth to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;
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 it not; doth not he that weigheth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
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, because 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 shall the knowledge of wisdom be to thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation 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 dwelling of the righteous; destroy 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 just man falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:
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 men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 For there shall 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 ruin of them both?
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
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 to the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, 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 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Prepare thy work outside, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy 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, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall 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 saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, 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 one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
