Proverbs 24:1-15

¹Be not thou envious of wicked men, And desire not to be with them!

²For their heart studieth destruction, And their lips speak mischief.

³Through wisdom is a house builded, And by understanding is it established;

⁴Yea, by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and goodly substance.

⁵The wise man is strong; Yea, the man of understanding establisheth his strength.

⁶For by wise counsel shalt thou make war, And by the multitude of counsellors cometh success.

⁷Wisdom is too high for the fool; He openeth not his mouth at the gate.

⁸He that deviseth to do evil Shall be called mischief-master.

⁹The purpose of folly is sin; And a scoffer is an abomination to men.

¹⁰If thy spirit faint in the day of adversity, Faint will be thy strength.

¹¹Deliver thou those who are dragged to death, And those who totter to the slaughter,—O keep them back!

¹²If thou sayst, “Behold, we knew it not!” Doth not he that weigheth the heart observe it? Yea, he that keepeth thy soul knoweth it. And he will render to every man according to his works.

¹³Eat honey, my son, for it is good, And the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste;

¹⁴So learn thou wisdom for thy soul! When thou hast found it, there shall be a reward, And thy expectation shall not be cut off.

¹⁵Plot not, O wicked man! against the habitation of the righteous; Spoil not his resting-place!