Pro 24 | HCSB | STEP | Don’t envy evil men or desire to be with them,

‏ Proverbs 24

1 Don’t envy evil men ^a

or desire to be with them, ^b
2 for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble. ^c

3 A house is built by wisdom, ^d
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, ^{▼▼LXX, Syr; MT reads one is in strength}
and a man of knowledge than one of strength; ^{▼▼LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads knowledge exerts strength
,} ^g
6 for you should wage war with sound guidance –
victory comes with many counselors. ^h

7 Wisdom is inaccessible to ^{▼▼Lit is too high for} a fool; ^j
he does not open his mouth at the ^{▼▼gate(s): The center for community discussions, political meetings, and trying of court cases}gate. ^l

8 The one who plots evil ^m
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. ⁿ
12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t He who weighs hearts ^o consider it?
Won’t He who protects your life ^p know?
Won’t He repay a person according to his work? ^q

13 Eat honey, ^r my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; ^s
14 realize that wisdom is the same for you. ^t
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade. ^u

15 Wicked man, don’t set an ambush,
at the camp of the righteous man; ^v
don’t destroy his dwelling.
16 Though a righteous man falls seven times,
he will get up, ^w
but the wicked will stumble into ruin. ^x

17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, ^y
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. ^z
20 For the evil have no future; ^aa
the lamp of the wicked will be put out. ^ab

21 My son, ^{▼▼fear(s) God or the Lord/ the fear of the Lord: No single English word conveys every aspect of the word fear in this phrase. The meaning includes worshipful submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect to the covenant-keeping God of Israel.}fear the Lord, as well as the king, ^ad
and don’t associate with rebels, ^{▼▼Or those given to change}
22 for destruction from them will come suddenly;
who knows what distress these two can bring?

23 These sayings also belong to the wise: ^af

It is not good to show partiality in judgment. ^ag
24 Whoever says to the ^{▼▼guilt/guilty: The liability to be punished for a fault, a sin, an act, or an omission unless there is forgiveness or atonement; the term normally concerns an objective fact, not a subjective feeling.}guilty, “You are innocent” ^ai –
people will curse him, ^aj and tribes 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; ^ak
afterward, build your house.

28 Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. ^al
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.” ^am

30 I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.
31 Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground, ^an
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,
your need, like a bandit. ^ao