PROVERBS 24:16-32

¹⁶For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

¹⁷Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he is overthrown:

¹⁸Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

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

²⁰For there will be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

²¹My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

²²For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the destruction of them both?

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

²⁴He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:

²⁵But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

²⁶He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.

²⁷Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

²⁸Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

²⁹Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.

³⁰I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

³¹And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

³²Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction.