Proverbs 24

By Wisdom a House Is Built

1Do not envy evil people,
and do not desire
to be with them, 2for their hearts devise violence
and their lips
speak trouble. 3By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding
it is established. 4Through knowledge
its rooms are filled
with every precious
and pleasant treasure. 5A wise person is strong,
and a person of knowledge
increases strength.

6For by wise guidance
you can wage war,
and in an abundance of counselors
there is deliverance. 7Wisdom is too high for a fool;
at the gate
they do not open their mouth. 8Whoever plans to do evil
will be called
a schemer. 9The scheme of folly
is sin,
and a scoffer
is an abomination to humanity. 10If you become weak
in the day of trouble,
your strength is small.

Rescue Those Being Taken to Death

11Rescue those
being taken away to death;
hold back those
staggering toward slaughter. 12If you say,
“Look, we did not know this,”
does not the one who weighs hearts understand?
Does not the one who guards your life know?
Will that one not repay each person
according to their work?

Wisdom Is Sweet

13My child, eat honey,
for it is good,
and the honeycomb
is sweet to your taste. 14Know that wisdom
is like this for your life;
if you find it,
there will be a future,
and your hope
will not be cut off.

The Righteous Rise Again

15Do not lie in wait like the wicked
against the dwelling of the righteous;
do not destroy
their resting place. 16For though the righteous fall seven times,
they rise again,
but the wicked stumble
in calamity. 17Do not rejoice
when your enemy falls,
and do not let your heart be glad
when they stumble, 18lest the LORD see
and it be evil in the LORD’s eyes,
and the LORD turn anger
away from them.

19Do not become agitated
because of evildoers;
do not envy
the wicked. 20For there is no future
for the evil person;
the lamp of the wicked
will be extinguished. 21My child, fear the LORD
and the king,
and do not associate
with those who seek change through rebellion, 22for their disaster
will rise suddenly,
and who knows the ruin
that both may bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

23These also are sayings of the wise:

Showing partiality in judgment
is not good. 24Whoever says to the wicked,
“You are righteous,”
will be cursed by peoples
and denounced by nations. 25But it will go well
with those who correct the wicked,
and good blessing
will come upon them. 26An honest answer
is like a kiss
on the lips.

27Prepare your work outside
and make it ready for yourself in the field;
afterward
build your house. 28Do not be a witness
against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive
with your lips. 29Do not say,
“As they did to me,
so I will do to them;
I will repay the person
according to their work.”

The Field of the Lazy

30I passed by the field
of a lazy person,
by the vineyard
of one lacking sense. 31And look,
it was all overgrown with thorns;
nettles covered its surface,
and its stone wall
was broken down. 32Then I looked
and took it to heart;
I saw
and received discipline: 33A little sleep,
a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands
to rest, 34and your poverty
will come like a robber
and your need
like an armed warrior.