Proverbs 24

1 Do not be envious of those who are evil, nor desire to associate with them,

Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.

2 because their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about trouble.

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

3 Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established.

Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established;

4 By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A warrior of wisdom is strong, and a man of knowledge increases his strength;

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

6 for by wise direction you can wage your war and with many advisors there is victory.

For with wise advice thou shalt make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.

Wisdom is as unattainable to a fool as corals; he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8 There is one who plans to do evil— people call him a master of schemes.

He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.

9 A foolish plan is sin and men despise a mocker.

The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 If you become weak with fear in the day of trouble, then your strength is small.

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small indeed.

11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death and hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.

Deliver them that are drawn unto death; and those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?

12 If you say, “Behold, we knew nothing about this,” does not the one who weighs the heart understand what you are saying? The one who guards your life, does he not know it? Will God not give to each one what he deserves?

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 works?

13 My son, eat honey because it is good, because the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to thy taste;

14 Such is wisdom for your soul— if you find it, there will be a future and your hope will not be cut off.

So know thou wisdom to be unto thy soul; if thou hast found it, then shall there be a future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait like the wicked person who attacks the house of the righteous person. Do not destroy his home!

Lie not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting-place;

16 For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again, but wicked people are brought down by calamity.

For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity.

17 Do not celebrate when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;

18 or Yahweh will see and disapprove and turn away his wrath from him.

Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.

19 Do not worry because of evildoers, and do not envy wicked people,

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

20 for the evil person has no future and the lamp of wicked people will go out.

For there will be no future to the evil man, the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

21 Fear Yahweh, and fear the king, my son; do not associate with those who rebel against them,

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change;

22 for suddenly their disaster will come and who knows the extent of the destruction that will come from both of them?

For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin from them both?

23 These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging a case at law is not good.

These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.

24 Whoever says to the wicked person, “You are a righteous person,” will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.

He that saith unto the wicked: 'Thou art righteous', peoples shall curse him, nations shall execrate him;

25 But those who discipline the wicked will have delight and gifts of goodness will come to them.

But to them that decide justly shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 The one who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.

He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.

27 Prepare your outdoor work, and make everything ready for yourself in the field; after that, build your house.

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.

28 Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause and do not deceive with your lips.

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

29 Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me; I will pay him back for what he has done.”

Say not: 'I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.'

30 I went by the field of a lazy man, past the vineyard of the man having no sense.

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31 Thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.

Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.

33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—

'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep' —

34 and poverty comes marching upon you, and your needs like an armed soldier.

So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.