Proverbs 24:1-34

¹My son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.

²For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.

³A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.

⁴By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.

⁵A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.

⁶War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.

⁷Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,

⁸but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed men.

⁹The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness attaches to a pestilent man.

¹⁰He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.

¹¹Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not your help.

¹²But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.

¹³My son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.

¹⁴Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.

¹⁵Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.

¹⁶For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise again: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.

¹⁷If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.

¹⁸For the Lord will see it, and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.

¹⁹Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.

²⁰For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.

²¹My son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.

²²For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance inflicted by both? A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for such an one has fully received it. Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yes, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue. The king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whoever shall be given up to it shall be destroyed: for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men's bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not even fit to be eaten by the young eagles. My son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.

²³And this thing I say to you that are wise for you to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

²⁴He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.

²⁵But they that reprove him shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;

²⁶and men will kiss lips that answer well.

²⁷Prepare your works for your going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.

²⁸Be not a false witness against your fellow citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.

²⁹Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.

³⁰A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.

³¹If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.

³²Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.

³³The sluggard says, I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across my breast.

³⁴But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.