Proverbs 24

1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.

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

2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.

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

3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.

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

4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.

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

5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.

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

6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.

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

7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,

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

8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].

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

9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.

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

10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.

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

11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help].

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

12 But if thou shouldest 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.

If you say, "Look, 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?

13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened.

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

14 Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee.

Likewise, know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.

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

16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.

For the righteous may fall seven times, but gets up again, but the wicked will stumble in adversity.

17 If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.

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

18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.

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

19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.

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

20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.

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

21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.

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

22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?

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

23 And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

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

24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.

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

25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;

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

26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.

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

28 Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips.

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

29 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.

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

30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.

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

31 If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.

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

32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.

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

33 [The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.

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

34 But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier.

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