Proverbs 24

₁Be not envious of evil men,

nor desire to be with them,

₂for their hearts devise violence,

and their lips talk of trouble.

₃By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

₄by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.

₅A wise man is full of strength,

and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

₆for by wise guidance you can wage your war,

and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

₇Wisdom is too high for a fool;

in the gate he does not open his mouth.

₈Whoever plans to do evil

will be called a schemer.

₉The devising of folly is sin,

and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

₁₀If you faint in the day of adversity,

your strength is small.

₁₁Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

₁₂If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man according to his work?

₁₃My son, eat honey, for it is good,

and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

₁₄Know that wisdom is such to your soul;

if you find it, there will be a future,

and your hope will not be cut off.

₁₅Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;

do no violence to his home;

₁₆for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,

but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

₁₇Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

₁₈lest the Lord see it and be displeased,

and turn away his anger from him.

₁₉Fret not yourself because of evildoers,

and be not envious of the wicked,

₂₀for the evil man has no future;

the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

₂₁My son, fear the Lord and the king,

and do not join with those who do otherwise,

₂₂for disaster will arise suddenly from them,

and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

Partiality in judging is not good.

₂₄Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”

will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

₂₅but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,

and a good blessing will come upon them.

₂₆Whoever gives an honest answer

kisses the lips.

₂₇Prepare your work outside;

get everything ready for yourself in the field,

and after that build your house.

₂₈Be not a witness 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 pay the man back for what he has done.”

₃₀I passed by the field of a sluggard,

by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

₃₁and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

₃₂Then I saw and considered it;

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 want like an armed man.