Proverbs 24:19-34

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.

³²And when I had indeed beheld this I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.

³³“A little more sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”

³⁴But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.