Proverbs 24:12-31

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:

¹⁸Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.

¹⁹Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;

²⁰For there will be no happy future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.

²¹My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;

²²For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!

²³These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.

²⁴Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;

²⁵But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.

²⁶Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.

²⁷Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.

²⁸Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?

²⁹Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.

³⁰By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:

³¹And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.