Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, nor desire to be with them.
Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart meditates oppression, and their lips talk of mischief.
For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established,
Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established:
4 and by knowledge the chambers are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong, yea, a man of knowledge increases might.
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength.
6 For by wise guidance thou shall make thy war, and in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
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 opens not his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he opens not his mouth in the gate.
8 He who devises to do evil, men shall call him a mischief-maker.
He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The thought of folly is sin. And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
11 Deliver those who are carried away to death, and hold thou back those who are ready to be slain.
If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou say, Behold, we did not know this, Does not he who weighs the hearts consider it? And he who keeps thy soul, does he not know it? And shall not he 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 thou honey, for it is good, and the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste,
My son, eat you honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste:
14 so the knowledge of wisdom is to thy soul. If thou have found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto your soul: when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not in wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not 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 Rejoice not when thine enemy falls, and let not thy 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 Jehovah 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 evildoers, nor be thou envious at the wicked.
Fret not yourself because of evil men, neither be you envious at the wicked:
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king, and do not associate with those who are given to change.
My son, fear you the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and the destruction from them both, who knows it?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?
23 These also are from the wise: To have respect of persons 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 a wicked man, Thou are righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him.
He that says unto the wicked, You are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall detest him:
25 But to those who rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
Every man shall kiss his lips that gives a right answer.
27 Prepare thy work outside, and make it ready for thee in the field, and afterwards build thy house.
Prepare your work without, and make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterwards build your house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause, and deceive not with thy lips.
Be not a witness against your neighbour without cause; and deceive not with your lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me; I will render to 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, and 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 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns. The face of it was covered with nettles, and the stone wall of it was broken down.
And, lo, 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 beheld, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Yet 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 thy poverty shall come as a robber, and thy want as an armed man.
So shall your poverty come as one that travels; and your lack as an armed man.
