Proverbs 24

chevron_leftchevron_right

¹Have no envy for evil men, or any desire to be with them:

²For the purposes of their hearts are destruction, and their lips are talking of trouble.

³The building of a house is by wisdom, and by reason it is made strong:

⁴And by knowledge its rooms are full of all dear and pleasing things.

⁵A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge makes strength greater.

⁶For by wise guiding you will overcome in war: and in a number of wise guides there is salvation.

⁷Wisdom is outside the power of the foolish: he keeps his mouth shut in the public place.

⁸He whose purposes are bad will be named a man of evil designs.

⁹The purpose of the foolish is sin: and the hater of authority is disgusting to others.

¹⁰If you give way in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

¹¹Be the saviour of those who are given up to death, and do not keep back help from those who are slipping to destruction.

¹²If you say, See, we had no knowledge of this: does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?

¹³My son, take honey, for it is good; and the flowing honey, which is sweet to your taste:

¹⁴So let your desire be for wisdom: if you have it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵Do not keep a secret watch, O evil-doer, against the fields of the upright man, or send destruction on his resting-place:

¹⁶For an upright man, after falling seven times, will get up again: but trouble is the downfall of the evil.

¹⁷Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:

¹⁸For fear that the Lord may see it, and it may be evil in his eyes, and his wrath may be turned away from him.

¹⁹Do not be troubled because of evil-doers, or have envy of sinners:

²⁰For there will be no future for the evil man; the light of sinners will be put out.

²¹My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:

²²For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?

²³These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.

²⁴He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.

²⁵But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.

²⁶He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.

²⁷Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.

²⁸Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.

²⁹Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.

³⁰I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;

³¹And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.

³²Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got teaching from it.

³³A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:

³⁴So loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man.

Proverbs 24

¹Do not be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:

²for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.

³Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;

⁴by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

⁵A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;

⁶for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.

⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.

⁸One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.

⁹The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

¹⁰If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

¹¹Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

¹²If you say, "Behold, we did not know this;" doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?

¹³My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:

¹⁴so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place:

¹⁶for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

¹⁷Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;

¹⁸lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

¹⁹Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:

²⁰for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.

²¹My son, fear the Lord and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious:

²²for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both-who knows?

²³These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

²⁴He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him-

²⁵but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.

²⁶An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

²⁷Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

²⁸Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips.

²⁹Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

³⁰I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

³¹Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

³²Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

³³a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;

³⁴so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.