Proverbs 24

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

Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.

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

For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.

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

Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;

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

And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.

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

A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.

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

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: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.

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

Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.

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

The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.

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

If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.

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

Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.

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 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 thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honey-comb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:

Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:

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

Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;

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

For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.

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

At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:

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 be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.

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

Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;

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

For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.

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: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;

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

For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!

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

These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.

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

Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;

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

But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.

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

Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.

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

Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.

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

Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy 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 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 the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:

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, 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] well: I looked upon [it], [and] received instruction.

And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.

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

“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”

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

But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.