Proverbs 24

1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.ss6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.s

11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:s14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.s

19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;s20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.s

21 My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:s22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.s26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.s27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.s33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.s

Proverbs 25

1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.s

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:s7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:s10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.s12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.s15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.ss18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.s24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Proverbs 26

1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.s

6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.s7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.s8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.s9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.s11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.s12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.s16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.s

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,s19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.sss21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.s23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;s25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.s26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.s27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.