Proverbs 24:16-32

¹⁶For an upright man, after falling seven times, will get up again: but trouble is the downfall of the evil.

¹⁷Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:

¹⁸For fear that the Lord may see it, and it may be evil in his eyes, and his wrath may be turned away from him.

¹⁹Do not be troubled because of evil-doers, or have envy of sinners:

²⁰For there will be no future for the evil man; the light of sinners will be put out.

²¹My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:

²²For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?

²³These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.

²⁴He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.

²⁵But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.

²⁶He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.

²⁷Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.

²⁸Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.

²⁹Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.

³⁰I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;

³¹And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.

³²Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got teaching from it.