Proverbs

The Proverbs, chapter 24, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 24 New English Translation

   1 Do not envy evil people, do not desire to be with them;
   2 for their hearts contemplate violence, and their lips speak harm.
   3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
   4 by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures.
   5 A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;
   6 for with guidance you wage your war, and with numerous advisers there is victory.
   7 Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.
   8 The one who plans to do evil will be called a scheming person.
   9 A foolish scheme is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to people.
   10 If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small!
   11 Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.
   12 If you say, "But we did not know about this," does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?
   13 Eat honey, my child, for it is good, and honey from the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
   14 Likewise, know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
   15 Do not lie in wait like the wicked against the place where the righteous live; do not assault his home.
   16 Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again, but the wicked will be brought down by calamity.
   17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,
   18 lest the LORD see it, and be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.
   19 Do not fret because of evil people or be envious of wicked people,
   20 for the evil person has no future, and the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
   21 Fear the LORD, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels,
   22 for suddenly their destruction will overtake them, and who knows the ruinous judgment both the LORD and the king can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

   23 These sayings also are from the wise: To show partiality in judgment is terrible:
   24 The one who says to the guilty, "You are innocent," peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him.
   25 But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty, and a pleasing blessing will come on them.
   26 Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer.
   27 Establish your work outside and get your fields ready; afterward build your house.
   28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your words.
   29 Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will pay him back according to what he has done."
   30 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom.
   31 I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.
   32 When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw:
   33 "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,
   34 and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber."

King James Version

   1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
   2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
   3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
   4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
   5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
   6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
   7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
   8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
   9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
   10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
   11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
   12 If 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?
   13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
   14 So 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.
   15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
   16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
   17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
   18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
   19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
   20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
   21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
   22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
   23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
   24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
   25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
   26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
   27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
   28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
   29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
   30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
   31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
   32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
   33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
   34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.