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 a 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 counselors [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 forbearest 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 pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? and will [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 honey-comb, [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 candle of the wicked shall be extinguished.

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 without, 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 neighbor 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 traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.

But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.