Proverbs — Chapter 24

1Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;

2for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.

3By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;

4through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.

5A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.

6Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

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

8He who plots evil will be called a schemer.

9A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.

10If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!

11Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

13Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

14Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.

16For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.

17Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

18or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.

19Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.

20For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

21My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.

22For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?

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

24Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

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

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

27Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.

28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

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

30I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.

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

32I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:

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

34and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart 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?

13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

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

31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

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

33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

1Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:

2For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.

3Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established;

4And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches.

5A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might

6For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8He that deviseth to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker.

9The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

10If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.

11Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.

12If 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?

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

14So 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.

15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; Destroy not his resting-place:

16For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;

18Lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.

19Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; Neither be thou envious at the wicked:

20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

21My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; [And] company not with them that are given to change:

22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knoweth it?

23These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.

24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:

25But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.

26He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.

27Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.

28Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.

29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.

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

31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:

33[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;

34So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.

1Do not envy evil people do not desire to be with them;

2for their hearts contemplate violence, and their lips speak harm.

3By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;

4by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures.

5A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;

6for with guidance you wage your war, and with numerous advisers there is victory.

7Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.

8The one who plans to do evil will be called a scheming person.

9A foolish scheme is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to people.

10You have slacked off in the day of trouble— your strength is small!

11Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.

12If you say, “But we did not know about this,” won’t the one who evaluates hearts discern it? Won’t the one who guards your life realize and repay each person according to his deeds?

13Eat honey, my child, for it is good, and honey from the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

14Likewise, know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you have found it, you have a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

15Do not lie in wait like the wicked against the place where the righteous live; do not assault his home.

16Indeed a righteous person will fall seven times, and then get up again, but the guilty will collapse in calamity.

17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,

18lest the Lord see it, and be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.

19Do not fret because of evil people or be envious of wicked people,

20for the evil person has no future, and the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

21Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels,

22for suddenly their destruction will overtake them, and who knows the ruinous judgment both the Lord and the king can bring?

23These sayings also are from the wise: To show partiality in judgment is terrible:

24The one who says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him.

25But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty, and a pleasing blessing will come on them.

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

27Establish your work outside and get your fields ready; afterward build your house.

28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your words.

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

30I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks sense.

31I saw that thorns had grown up all over it; the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.

32Then I scrutinized it. I was putting my mind to it— I saw; I took in a lesson:

33“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,

34and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber.”

1Don’t 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 didn’t 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.

15Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place:

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

17Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;

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

19Don’t 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 Yahweh and the king. Don’t 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 will curse him, and nations will 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.

28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.

29Don’t 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.