Proverbs 24

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.

World English Bible (public domain)