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Proverbs 24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Proverbs 24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 24
1 [a]Do not envy the wicked,
nor desire to be with them;(A)
2 For their hearts plot violence,
and their lips speak of foul play.
3 By wisdom a house is built,
by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge its rooms are filled
with every precious and pleasing possession.
5 The wise are more powerful than the strong,
and the learned, than the mighty,(B)
6 For by strategy war is waged,
and victory depends on many counselors.(C)
7 [b]Wise words are beyond fools’ reach,(D)
in the assembly they do not open their mouth;
8 As they calculate how to do evil,
people brand them troublemakers.
9 The scheme of a fool gains no acceptance,
the scoffer is an abomination to the community.
10 [c]Did you fail in a day of adversity,
did your strength fall short?
11 Did you fail to rescue those who were being dragged off to death,[d]
those tottering, those near death,
12 because you said, “We didn’t know about it”?
Surely, the Searcher of hearts knows
and will repay all according to their deeds.(E)
13 [e]If you eat honey, my son, because it is good,
if pure honey is sweet to your taste,
14 Such, you must know, is wisdom to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.(F)
15 [f]Do not lie in wait at the abode of the just,
do not ravage their dwelling places;
16 Though the just fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble from only one mishap.
17 [g]Do not rejoice when your enemies fall,
and when they stumble, do not let your heart exult,
18 Lest the Lord see it, be displeased with you,
and withdraw his wrath from your enemies.
19 Do not be provoked at evildoers,
do not envy the wicked;
20 For the evil have no future,
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.(G)
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king;
have nothing to do with those who hate them;
22 For disaster will issue suddenly,
and calamity from them both, who knows when?
V. Further Sayings of the Wise[h]
23 These also are Words of the Wise:
To show partiality in judgment is not good.(H)
24 Whoever says to the guilty party, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by nations, scorned by peoples;
25 But those who render just verdicts will fare well,
and on them will come the blessing of prosperity.
26 An honest reply—
a kiss on the lips.[i]
27 Complete your outdoor tasks,
and arrange your work in the field;
afterward you can build your house.[j]
28 Do not testify falsely against your neighbor(I)
and so deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “As they did to me, so will I do to them;(J)
I will repay them according to their deeds.”[k]
30 [l]I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of one with no sense;
31 It was all overgrown with thistles;
its surface was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall broken down.
32 As I gazed at it, I reflected;
I saw and learned a lesson:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,(K)
a little folding of the arms to rest—
34 Then poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like a brigand.
Footnotes
- 24:1–22 A new section (24:1–14)—on the fates of the wicked and foolish—begins with a warning not to take the foolish as role models. The same admonition is repeated in 23:17–18 and 24:19–20. In 24:1, the verb means “to be jealous, zealous; to emulate.” The motive stated in the other passages—the wicked have no future—is indirectly stated here.
- 24:7–9 The verses are unclear; most scholars take them as two or even three single sayings, but, taken singly, the verses are banal. They are best taken as a single statement. Just as vv. 3–6 described the advantages of wisdom, so vv. 7–9 describe the disadvantages of its opposite, folly: it alienates one from the community (v. 7), for fools become notorious (v. 8), dooming their plans and ostracizing themselves.
- 24:10–12 Excuses for not coming to the aid of one’s neighbor in serious trouble do not suffice before God, who sees through self-serving excuses.
- 24:11 Rescue…death: perhaps refers to the legal rescue of those unjustly condemned to death.
- 24:13–14 God’s word is sometimes said to be sweeter than honey, e.g., Ps 119:101–103. Cf. also Ps 19:11; Prv 16:24; Ez 3:3; Sir 24:19–22.
- 24:15–16 The just will overcome every misfortune that oppresses them. Seven times is an indefinite number.
- 24:17–18 The admonition is linked to the previous by the words “fall” and “stumble.” Premature public celebration of the downfall of enemies equivalently preempts the retribution that belongs to God.
- 24:23–34
A little collection between the thirty sayings of 22:17–24:22 and the Hezekiah collection in chaps. 25–29. Its title (v. 23) suggests that editors took it as an appendix. At this point, the Greek edition of Proverbs begins to arrange the later sections of the book in a different order than the Hebrew edition.
An editor has arranged originally separate sayings into two parallel groups.
I. II. Conduct in court: Judges (vv. 24–25) Witnesses (v. 28) Speaking, thinking: Good speech (v. 26) Bad speech (v. 29) Wisdom in work: Positive (v. 27) Negative (vv. 30–34) - 24:26 The kiss is a gesture of respect and affection. The greatest sign of affection and respect for another is to tell that person the truth.
- 24:27 House: can refer to both the building and the family (cf. 2 Sm 7). In the context established by the placement noted above under 24:23, the saying means that neglect of one’s field is a sign that one is not building the house properly. In an agricultural society especially, the concept of household includes fields for animals and crops. On the metaphorical level, one must lay a careful preparation before embarking on a great project. This verse is sometimes interpreted as advocating careful and practical preparation for marriage.
- 24:29 Retribution is a long and complex process that belongs to the Lord, not to individuals. Cf. vv. 12d, 17–18.
- 24:30–34 Neglect of one’s fields through laziness ruins all plans to build a house (v. 27). This vignette is a teaching story, like those in 7:1–27; Ps 37:35–36.
Proverbs 24
New International Version
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)
Proverbs 24
King James Version
Proverbs 24
King James Version
24 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 are 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.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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