Proverbs 24
1Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
2For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
3By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
4By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
5A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
6For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
7Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
8Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
9The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
10If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
11Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
12If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
13My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
14So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
15Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
17When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
18lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
19Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
20For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
21My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
22For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
23Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
24Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
25Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
26He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
27Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
28Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
30I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
31and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
32When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
33You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
34And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
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.