Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
2 For their heart studieth oppression, and their lips talk of mischief.
Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.
A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
6 For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
8 He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
9 The thought of the foolish is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
11 Deliver them that are carried away unto death, and those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.
Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this: doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his work?
If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.
13 My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
14 So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul: if thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he is overthrown:
When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; neither be thou envious at the wicked:
Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
20 For there will be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put 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: and have nothing to do with detracters.
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the destruction of them both?
For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
23 These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man 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: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction.
Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
34 So shall thy poverty come as a robber; and thy want as an armed man.
And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
