Proverbs 24
GOD’S WORD Translation
24 Do not envy evil people
or wish you were with them,
2 because their minds plot violence,
and their lips talk trouble.
3 With wisdom a house is built.
With understanding it is established.
4 With knowledge its rooms are filled
with every kind of riches, both precious and pleasant.
5 A strong man knows how to use his strength,
but a person with knowledge is even more powerful.
6 After all, with the right strategy you can wage war,
and with many advisers there is victory.
7 Matters of wisdom are beyond the grasp of a stubborn fool.
At the city gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Whoever plans to do evil will be known as a schemer.
9 Foolish scheming is sinful,
and a mocker is disgusting to everyone.
10 If you faint in a crisis, you are weak.
11 Rescue captives condemned to death,
and spare those staggering toward their slaughter.
12 When you say, “We didn’t know this,”
won’t the one who weighs hearts take note of it?
Won’t the one who guards your soul know it?
Won’t he pay back people for what they do?
13 Eat honey, my son, because it is good.
Honey that flows from the honeycomb tastes sweet.
14 The knowledge of wisdom is like that for your soul.
If you find it, then there is a future,
and your hope will never be cut off.
15 You wicked one,
do not lie in ambush at the home of a righteous person.
Do not rob his house.
16 A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again.
However, in a disaster wicked people fall.
17 Do not be happy when your enemy falls,
and do not feel glad when he stumbles.
18 The Lord will see it, he won’t like it,
and he will turn his anger away from that person.
19 Do not get overly upset with evildoers.
Do not envy wicked people,
20 because an evil person has no future,
and the lamps of wicked people will be snuffed out.
21 Fear the Lord, my son.
Fear the king as well.
Do not associate with those who always insist upon change,
22 because disaster will come to them suddenly.
Who knows what misery both may bring?
Learning from Wise People
23 These also are the sayings of wise people:
Showing partiality as a judge is not good.
24 Whoever says to a guilty person, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by people and condemned by nations.
25 But people will be pleased with those who convict a guilty person,
and a great blessing will come to them.
26 Giving a straight answer is ⌞like⌟ a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside,
and get things ready for yourself in the field.
Afterwards, build your house.
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without a reason,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say,
“I’ll treat him as he treated me.
I’ll pay him back for what he has done to me.”
30 I passed by a lazy person’s field,
the vineyard belonging to a person without sense.
31 I saw that it was all overgrown with thistles.
The ground was covered with weeds,
and its stone fence was torn down.
32 When I observed ⌞this⌟, I took it to heart.
I saw it and learned my lesson.
33 “Just a little sleep,
just a little slumber,
just a little nap.”
34 Then your poverty will come like a drifter,
and your need will come like a bandit.
Proverbs 24
New International Version
Saying 20
24 Do not envy(A) the wicked,
do not desire their company;
2 for their hearts plot violence,(B)
and their lips talk about making trouble.(C)
Saying 21
3 By wisdom a house is built,(D)
and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.(E)
Saying 22
5 The wise prevail through great power,
and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
6 Surely you need guidance to wage war,
and victory is won through many advisers.(F)
Saying 23
7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
Saying 24
8 Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.
Saying 25
10 If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength!(G)
11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.(H)
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs(I) the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay(J) everyone according to what they have done?(K)
Saying 26
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.(L)
Saying 27
15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.(M)
Saying 28
17 Do not gloat(N) when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,(O)
18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.(P)
Saying 29
19 Do not fret(Q) because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.(R)
Saying 30
21 Fear the Lord and the king,(S) my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction(T) on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of the wise:(U)
To show partiality(V) in judging is not good:(W)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”(X)
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause(Y)—
would you use your lips to mislead?
29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”(Z)
30 I went past the field of a sluggard,(AA)
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest(AB)—
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.(AC)
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