Proverbs 24

CHAPTER 24

Wisdom Is Good Understanding

1O son, you should not be jealous of evil men, nor should you desire to be with them. 2[⁴lying ¹For ³meditates on   ²their heart], and [³of miseries   ¹their lips ²speak]. 3[³with ⁴wisdom ²is built ¹A house], and [²with ³skillfulness ¹is erected]. 4With good sense [³are filled up ¹the ²storerooms] of all [⁴wealth ¹valuable ²and ³good]. 5[²is better ¹A wise man] than a strong man;   a man of intelligence than one having [²farm ¹a great]. 6[³with ⁴guidance ²takes place ¹War], but help comes with the heart of a counselor. 7Wisdom and [²insight ¹good] are in the gates of the wise. The wise do not turn aside from the law of the lord, but consider things  in the sanhedrins; but the uninstructed ones meet with death, 9[³dies ¹but ²the fool] in sins. Uncleanness [²man ¹to a pestilent] -- 10he shall be contaminated in [²day ¹the evil], and in the day of affliction, until whenever he should cease. 11Rescue the ones being led unto death, and buy off the ones for slaying! You should not spare. 12But if you should say, I do not know this; know that the lord  [²the heart ³of all ¹knows]; even the one shaping the breath in all, he knows all things. He is the one who renders to each according to   his works. 13Eat honey, O son, [³is good ¹for ²the honeycomb]! that [³should be sweetened ¹your   ²throat]. 14For thus you shall perceive wisdom in  your soul; for if you should find it, [²will be ³good   ¹your decease], and hope [³you ¹shall not ²forsake]. 15You should not lead the impious to the pasture of the just; nor should you be deceived in filling the belly. 16For seven times [³shall fall ¹the ²just], and rise up; but the impious will weaken in evils. 17If [²should fall   ¹your enemy], you should not rejoice over him; and in   his fall be not lifted up! 18For the lord shall see it, and it will not please him; and he will return   his rage upon him. 19Do not rejoice over ones doing evil, nor be jealous of sinners! 20For in no way shall there be a progeny of wicked ones; and the torch of the impious shall be extinguished. 21Fear   God, O son, and the king! and to neither one of them should you resist persuasion. 22For suddenly they will pay the impious; and the punishment of both, who shall know? 23But these things  I say to you, to the wise, to realize that  to stand in awe of a person in a judgment is not good. 24The one having said, The impious is just, [²accursed ³among the peoples ¹will be], and detested among the nations. 25But the ones reproving [²the best ¹shall appear], [⁵upon ⁶them ¹and ⁴shall come ³blessing ²a good]; 26but lips shall kiss the ones answering [²words ¹with good]. 27Prepare [²for ³the ⁴departure   ¹your works], and make preparations for the field, and go after me! and you shall rebuild   your house. 28Do not be a lying witness against your fellow-countryman, nor open wide with your lips! 29You should not say, In which manner he treated me, I shall treat him; and I shall pay him who wronged me. 30[³is as ⁴a farm ²man ¹A foolish], and [⁴is as ⁵a vineyard ¹a man ²lacking ³of sense]; 31if you should let it go barren, then it shall become [²overgrown ¹entirely]; and [²takes place ¹failing];   and [²fences   ³of stones ¹his] shall be razed. 32Afterwards I changed my mind; I looked   to choose instruction. 33[²a little ¹I slumber]; [³a little ¹and ²I sleep soundly], [⁵a little ¹and ²I fold ³my hands ⁴to my breasts]. 34But if you should do this, [²shall come ³before   ¹poverty] you, and   lack as a good runner.