Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious of 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 are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.
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 with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors 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 will not open 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 master of intrigues.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 The purpose of folly 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 losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.
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, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.
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 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb 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 consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine 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; lay not waste his resting-place.
Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.
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 thine 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 Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger 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-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king: 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 come from 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 unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, 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 cometh upon them.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, 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 neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive 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 a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a 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 thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, 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 looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 — A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
