Proverbs 24:1-17

¹Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.

²For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.

³Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;

⁴And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.

⁵A wise man is always in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth his strength.

⁶For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.

⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.

⁸Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.

⁹The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.

¹⁰If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.

¹¹Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.

¹²If thou shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.

¹³Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:

¹⁴So obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a happy future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.

¹⁵Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;

¹⁶For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.

¹⁷At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad: