Proverbs 24

1 Do not envy wicked men,
do not desire their company;

2 for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

5 A wise man has great power,
and a man of knowledge increases strength;

6 for waging war you need guidance,
and for victory many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

8 He who plots evil
will be known as a schemer.

9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and men detest a mocker.

10 If you falter in times of trouble,
how small is your strength!

11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house,
do not raid his dwelling place;

16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

19 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,

20 for the evil man has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 Fear the Lord and the king, my son,
and do not join with the rebellious,

22 for those two will send sudden destruction upon them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?

23 These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:

24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”—
peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.

25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come upon them.

26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Finish your outdoor work
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause,
or use your lips to deceive.

29 Do not say, “I'll do to him as he has done to me;
I'll pay that man back for what he did.”

30 I went past the field of the sluggard,
past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;

31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.

32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—

34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.

PROVERBS 24

–19–

1 Don't be jealous of crooks
or want to be their friends.

2 All they think about
and talk about
is violence and cruelty.

–20–

3 Use wisdom and understanding
to establish your home;

4 let good sense fill the rooms
with priceless treasures.

–21–

5 Wisdom brings strength,
and knowledge gives power.

6 Battles are won
by listening to advice
and making a lot of plans.

–22–

7 Wisdom is too much for fools!
Their advice is no good.

–23–

8 No one but troublemakers
think up trouble.

9 Everyone hates senseless fools
who think up ways to sin.

–24–

10 Don't give up and be helpless
in times of trouble.

–25–

11 Don't fail to rescue those
who are doomed to die.

12 Don't say, “I didn't know it!”
God can read your mind.
He watches each of us
and knows our thoughts.
And God will pay us back
for what we do.

–26–

13 Honey is good for you,
my children,
and it tastes sweet.

14 Wisdom is like honey
for your life—
if you find it,
your future is bright.

–27–

15 Don't be a cruel person
who attacks good people
and hurts their families.

16 Even if good people
fall seven times,
they will get back up.
But when trouble strikes
the wicked,
that's the end of them.

–28–

17 Don't be happy
to see your enemies trip
and fall down.

18 The [Lord] will find out
and be unhappy.
Then he will stop
being angry with them.

–29–

19 Don't let evil people
worry you
or make you jealous.

20 They will soon be gone
like the flame of a lamp
that burns out.

–30–

21 My children, you must respect
the [Lord] and the king,
and you must not make friends
with anyone who rebels
against either of them.

22 Who knows what sudden disaster
the [Lord] or a ruler
might bring?

More Sayings That Make //Good Sense

23 Here are some more sayings
that make good sense:
When you judge,
you must be fair.

24 If you let the guilty
go free,
people of all nations
will hate and curse you.

25 But if you punish the guilty,
things will go well for you,
and you will prosper.

26 Giving an honest answer
is a sign
of true friendship.

27 Get your fields ready
and plant your crops
before starting a home.

28 Don't accuse anyone
who isn't guilty.
Don't ever tell a lie

29 or say to someone,
“I'll get even with you!”

30 I once walked by the field
and the vineyard
of a lazy fool.

31 Thorns and weeds
were everywhere,
and the stone wall
had fallen down.

32 When I saw this,
it taught me a lesson:

33  t Sleep a little. Doze a little.
Fold your hands
and twiddle your thumbs.

34 Suddenly poverty hits you
and everything is gone!