Proverbs 24

1 Don’t envy the evil  * 24:1 Ps 37:1; Pr 23:17; 24:19

or desire to be with them,  * 24:1 Ps 1:1; Pr 1:15

2 for their hearts plan violence,

and their words stir up trouble.  * 24:2 Ps 10:7

3 A house is built by wisdom,  * 24:3 Pr 14:1

and it is established by understanding;

4 by knowledge the rooms are filled

with every precious and beautiful treasure.

5 A wise warrior is better than a strong one,  * 24:5 LXX, Syr; MT reads is in strength

and a man of knowledge than one of strength;  * 24:5 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads knowledge exerts strength,* 24:5 Pr 21:22

6 for you should wage war with sound guidance —

victory comes with many counselors.  * 24:6 Pr 11:14; 15:22; 20:18

7 Wisdom is inaccessible to  * 24:7 Lit is too high for  a fool;  * 24:7 Pr 14:6; 17:16,24

he does not open his mouth at the city gate.  * 24:7 Jb 5:4; Ps 127:5

8 The one who plots evil  * 24:8 Rm 1:30

will be called a schemer.

9 A foolish scheme is sin,

and a mocker is detestable to people.

10 If you do nothing in a difficult time,

your strength is limited.

11 Rescue those being taken off to death,

and save those stumbling toward slaughter.  * 24:11 Ps 82:4; Is 58:6–7

12 If you say, "But we didn’t know about this,"

won’t he who weighs hearts  * 24:12 1Sm 16:7; Ps 44:21; Pr 21:2 consider it?

Won’t he who protects your life  * 24:12 Ps 121:3–8  know?

Won’t he repay a person according to his work?  * 24:12 Jb 34:11; Ps 62:12

13 Eat honey,  * 24:13 Pr 25:16 my son, for it is good,

and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;  * 24:13 Sg 5:1

14 realize that wisdom is the same for you.  * 24:14 Ps 19:10; 119:103

If you find it, you will have a future,

and your hope will never fade.  * 24:14 Pr 10:28; 23:18; Jr 29:11

15 Don’t set an ambush, you wicked one,

at the camp of the righteous man;  * 24:15 Pr 10:9–10

don’t destroy his dwelling.

16 Though a righteous person falls seven times,

he will get up,  * 24:16 Jb 5:19; Ps 37:24

but the wicked will stumble into ruin.  * 24:16 Pr 14:32; 29:16

17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,

and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,  * 24:17 Ps 35:15,19; Pr 17:5; Ob 12; Mc 7:8

18 or the Lord will see, be displeased,

and turn his wrath away from him.

19 Don’t be agitated by evildoers,

and don’t envy the wicked.  * 24:19 Ps 37:1; Pr 23:17; 24:1

20 For the evil have no future;  * 24:20 Ps 37:38; Pr 14:11; 16:25

the lamp of the wicked will be put out.  * 24:20 2Sm 21:17; Jb 18:5; 21:17; Pr 13:9; 20:20

21 My son, fear the  Lord, as well as the king,  * 24:21 Mt 22:21; Rm 13:1–7; 1Pt 2:13–14,17

and don’t associate with rebels,  * 24:21 Or those given to change

22 for destruction will come suddenly from them;

who knows what distress these two can bring?

23 These sayings also belong to the wise:  * 24:23 Pr 1:6; 22:17

It is not good to show partiality in judgment.  * 24:23 Dt 1:17; 16:19; Pr 18:5; 28:21

24 Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"  * 24:24 Pr 17:15  —

peoples will curse him,  * 24:24 Pr 11:26 and nations will denounce him;

25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,

and a generous blessing will come to them.

26 He who gives an honest answer

gives a kiss on the lips.

27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;  * 24:27 Pr 20:4

afterward, build your house.

28 Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause.  * 24:28 Ex 20:16; Pr 25:18

Don’t deceive with your lips.

29 Don’t say, "I’ll do to him what he did to me;

I’ll repay the man for what he has done."  * 24:29 Dt 32:35; Pr 20:22; Mt 5:39; Rm 12:17,19

30 I went by the field of a slacker

and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.

31 Thistles had come up everywhere,

weeds covered the ground,  * 24:31 Gn 3:18; Pr 20:4

and the stone wall was ruined.

32 I saw, and took it to heart;

I looked, and received instruction:

33 a little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest,

34 and your poverty will come like a robber,

and your need, like a bandit.  * 24:34 Pr 6:10–11; 20:13