Proverbs 24

1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.

2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.

3 Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established:

By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.

4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.

5 A wise man [is] strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.

6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors [there is] safety.

For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.

7 Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.

8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.

9 The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men.

The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.

10 [If] thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.

If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.

11 If thou forbearest to deliver [them that are] drawn to death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;

Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.

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?

If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a 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, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.

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.

So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.

15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy not his resting-place:

Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.

16 For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.

17 Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:

When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,

18 Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.

19 Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked;

Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be extinguished.

For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.

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, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?

23 These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.

24 He that saith to the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.

25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.

26 [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.

He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.

27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.

Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.

28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.

Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone 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.

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,

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.

and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.

32 Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it], [and] received instruction.

When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.

33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.

34 So shall thy poverty come [as] one that traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.

And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”