Proverbs 24
1 Do not envy evil people; do not desire to associate with them,
[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 because they are [constantly] thinking about acting violently, and whenever they speak [MTY], they talk about (causing trouble/hurting someone).
For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 People make good houses (OR, families) by doing what is wise, and they make their houses (OR, families) strong by [heeding] good advice.
A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 By using good sense, [they are able to buy] valuable and beautiful things and put them in the rooms of their houses.
By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 Being wise is better than being strong/powerful; those who know [many things can accomplish more] than those who are [very] strong.
A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 Leaders can fight battles if they have wise advisors, and they win those battles if they have many good advisors.
War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Foolish people cannot understand wise sayings/talk; at public meetings they are not [able to] say anything [that is useful].
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 Those who are [always] planning to do evil things will be called troublemakers.
but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 It is sinful to plan to do foolish things, and people hate those who make fun of [everything that is good].
The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 If you [act as though] you are helpless when you have troubles, you are [truly very] weak.
He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11 [If it is unjustly decided] that someone must be executed, [try hard to] rescue them [DOU].
Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].
12 If you say, “I did not know anything about it, [so (it is not my concern/I did not try to help him)],” remember that God knows what we have done, and he knows what we were thinking [IDM, RHQ], and he will certainly [RHQ] repay us as we deserve for what we have done or for not doing what we should have done.
But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
13 My child/son, eat honey, because it is good [for you]; the honey that drips from honeycombs tastes [very] sweet.
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.
14 Similarly, being wise is good for your soul; if you become wise, you will be [happy in] the future, and [God] will certainly [do for you what you are] confidently expecting him to do [LIT].
Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.
15 Do not be like wicked people who [hide and] wait to break into the houses of righteous/good [people] and rob/steal things.
Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
16 [Even if] good people fall down seven/many times, they [always] stand/get up again, but when a disaster happens to wicked [people], it ruins/destroys them.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 Do not be happy when something bad happens to one of your enemies; do not rejoice when he stumbles and falls,
If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 because Yahweh will know what you are thinking, and he will not like it, and [as a result] he will not punish that enemy of yours.
For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
19 Do not become angry/upset about those who do what is evil, and do not [SYN] envy them,
Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 because [nothing good] will happen to wicked people; they are [like] a lamp that will soon be extinguished [MET].
For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My child/son, revere Yahweh and [also] honor the king, and do not associate with people who want to rebel against either of them,
[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 because those people will suddenly experience disasters; and no one knows [RHQ] what great disasters that God or the king can cause to happen to them.
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 Here are more things that wise [people] have said: It is wrong for judges to decide matters unfairly [IDM].
And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement.
24 If they say to people who are guilty, “You (are innocent/have not done something that is wrong),” [even] people in other nations will curse and despise them,
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful amongst the nations.
25 but if judges say that guilty people must be punished, things will go well for those judges, and (they will receive blessings/God will bless them).
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 Those who answer others honestly show that they are truly their friends [IDM].
and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 First, do the work [that needs to be done] outside [your house], and prepare your fields, [and then plant things], and after you finish doing that, build your house.
Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.
28 [In the courtroom] do not testify against someone when you have no reason to do that, and do not [try to] deceive [people] by what you say [MTY].
Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him what he did to me; I will pay him back for [the bad things that] he did to me.”
Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
30 One day I walked by the vineyards of a lazy man, a man who did not have good sense.
A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 I was surprised to see that the fields were full of all kinds of thorny bushes, and the stone wall [around the garden] had (collapsed/fallen down).
If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
32 When I saw that, I thought about it, and I learned this:
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 [If you spend a lot of time] sleeping and napping and folding your hands while you rest,
[The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
34 [soon] you will become poor; [it will be as though] [PRS, SIM] a bandit who had a weapon in his hand [attacked you and stole all that you had].
But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.
