Proverbs 24
1 Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
For by wise counsel you shall make your war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he opens not his mouth in the gate.
8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn to death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 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?
If you say, Behold, we knew it not; does not he that ponders the heart consider it? and he that keeps your soul, does not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
My son, eat you honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste:
14 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.
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul: when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles:
18 lest Yahweh 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 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
Fret not yourself because of evil men, neither be you envious at the wicked:
20 for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
My son, fear you the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
He that says to the wicked, You are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come on them.
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
Every man shall kiss his lips that gives a right answer.
27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house.
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause; and deceive not with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
And, see, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked on it, and received instruction.
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
So shall your poverty come as one that travels; and your want as an armed man.
