24
1 Don’t
be envious of
evil men,
neither desire to be
with them;
2 for
their hearts plot
violence
and their lips
talk about
mischief.
3 Through
wisdom a house
is built;
by understanding
it is established;
4 by
knowledge the
rooms are filled
with all rare
and beautiful treasure.
5 A
wise man has great
power.
A knowledgeable man increases
strength,
6 for
by wise guidance
you wage your
war,
and victory is
in many advisors.
7 Wisdom
is too high
for a fool.
He doesn’t open
his mouth in
the gate.
8 One who
plots to do
evil
will be called a
schemer.
9 The
schemes of folly
are sin.
The mocker
is detested by men.
10 If
you falter in the
time of trouble,
your strength is
small.
11 Rescue those
who are being led away
to death!
Indeed, hold back those who
are staggering to
the slaughter!
12 If
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?
13 My
son, eat honey,
for it is
good,
the droppings of
the honeycomb,
which are sweet
to your taste;
14 so
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.
15 Don’t lay
in wait, wicked
man, against the
habitation of the
righteous.
Don’t destroy his
resting place;
16 for
a righteous man
falls seven times
and rises up
again,
but the wicked
are overthrown by
calamity.
17 Don’t
rejoice when
your enemy falls.
Don’t let your
heart be glad
when he is
overthrown,
18 lest
the LORD see
it, and it
displease him,
and he turn
away his wrath
from him.
19 Don’t
fret yourself because of
evildoers,
neither be envious
of the wicked;
20 for
there will be
no reward to the
evil man.
The lamp of
the wicked will
be snuffed out.
21 My
son, fear the
LORD and the
king.
Don’t join those
who are rebellious,
22 for
their calamity
will rise suddenly.
Who knows what
destruction may
come from them
both?
23 These
also are sayings
of the wise:
To show
partiality in
judgment is not
good.
24 He
who says to the
wicked, “You are
righteous,”
peoples will
curse him, and
nations will
abhor him—
25 but
it will go well
with those
who convict the guilty,
and a rich
blessing will come
on them.
26 An honest
answer
is like a
kiss on the
lips.
27 Prepare
your work outside,
and get your
fields ready.
Afterwards, build your
house.
28 Don’t be
a witness against
your neighbor
without cause.
Don’t deceive with
your lips.
29 Don’t say,
“I will do
to him as
he has done
to me;
I will repay
the man according to
his work.”
30 I
went by the
field of the
sluggard,
by the vineyard
of the man
void of
understanding.
31 Behold,
it was all grown
over with thorns.
Its surface was
covered with
nettles,
and its stone
wall was broken
down.
32 Then
I saw, and
considered well.
I saw, and
received instruction:
33 a
little sleep, a
little slumber,
a little folding
of the hands
to sleep,
34 so your
poverty will come
as a robber
and your want
as an armed man.