Proverbs 24:17-28

¹⁷Don't celebrate when your enemies fall; don't be glad when they trip up,

¹⁸otherwise when the Lord sees it, he'll be unhappy with you and won't punish your enemies as he planned.

¹⁹Don't get all upset over the wicked, or be jealous of those who do wrong,

²⁰for evil people have no future—the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

²¹My son, honor the Lord and the king, and don't join those who are rebellious,

²²for disaster will suddenly fall on them. Who knows how the Lord and king will punish them?

²³These are more sayings of the wise: Showing favoritism when passing judgment is wrong.

²⁴Those who tell the guilty, “You're innocent,” will be cursed by the people and hated by the nation,

²⁵while those who convict the guilty will be appreciated, and will receive a rich blessing.

²⁶An honest answer is a kiss on the lips.

²⁷Do the work you need to do outside first, then prepare and sow your fields, and only after that start building your house.

²⁸Don't testify against your neighbors without having a good reason, and don't tell lies.