Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established:
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise man [is] strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors [there is] safety.
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7 Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 [If] thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 If thou forbearest to deliver [them that are] drawn to death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
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 say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
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 it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
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 you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy not his resting-place:
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
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 displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be 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 reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
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. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement is not good.
24 He that saith to the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.
Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive 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.
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
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.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it], [and] received instruction.
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 So shall thy poverty come [as] one that traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
