Proverbs 24

1 Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:

Do not be envious of those who are evil, nor desire to associate with them,

2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.

because their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about trouble.

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

Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established.

4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;

A warrior of wisdom is strong, and a man of knowledge increases his strength;

6 for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.

for by wise direction you can wage your war and with many advisors there is victory.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.

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

8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.

There is one who plans to do evil— people call him a master of schemes.

9 The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

A foolish plan is sin and men despise a mocker.

10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

If you become weak with fear in the day of trouble, then your strength is small.

11 Rescue those who are being led away to death. Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.

Rescue those who are being taken away to death and hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.

12 If you say, "Look, we did not 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?

If you say, “Behold, we knew nothing about this,” does not the one who weighs the heart understand what you are saying? The one who guards your life, does he not know it? Will God not give to each one what he deserves?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste.

My son, eat honey because it is good, because the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

14 Likewise, know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.

Such is wisdom for your soul— if you find it, there will be a future and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place.

Do not lie in wait like the wicked person who attacks the house of the righteous person. Do not destroy his home!

16 For the righteous may fall seven times, but gets up again, but the wicked will stumble in adversity.

For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again, but wicked people are brought down by calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;

Do not celebrate when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

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

or Yahweh will see and disapprove and turn away his wrath from him.

19 Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:

Do not worry because of evildoers, and do not envy wicked people,

20 for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.

for the evil person has no future and the lamp of wicked people will go out.

21 My son, fear the LORD and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:

Fear Yahweh, and fear the king, my son; do not associate with those who rebel against them,

22 for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?

for suddenly their disaster will come and who knows the extent of the destruction that will come from both of them?

23 These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging a case at law is not good.

24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him—

Whoever says to the wicked person, “You are a righteous person,” will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.

25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.

But those who discipline the wicked will have delight and gifts of goodness will come to them.

26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

The one who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

Prepare your outdoor work, and make everything ready for yourself in the field; after that, build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips.

Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause and do not deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me; I will pay him back for what he has done.”

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

I went by the field of a lazy man, past the vineyard of the man having no sense.

31 Look, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

Thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.

33 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 rest—

34 so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.

and poverty comes marching upon you, and your needs like an armed soldier.