Proverbs 24

1Be not ^aenvious of evil men,
nor desire to be ^bwith them,
2for their hearts ^cdevise violence,
and their lips ^dtalk of trouble.
3 By ^ewisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all ^fprecious and pleasant riches.
5 ^gA wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6for by ^hwise guidance you can wage your war,
and in ⁱabundance of counselors there is victory.
7Wisdom is ^jtoo high for a fool;
in ^kthe gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Whoever ^lplans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9 ^mThe devising ▼

▼Or scheming

of folly is sin,
and ^othe scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
10 If you ^pfaint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 ^qRescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
^rdoes not he who ^sweighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who ^tkeeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man ^uaccording to his work?
13 My son, ^veat honey, for it is good,
and ^wthe drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be ^xa future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
15 ^yLie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do no violence to his home;
16 ^zfor the righteous falls ^aaseven times and rises again,
but ^abthe wicked stumble in times of calamity.
17 ^acDo not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
19 ^adFret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not ^aeenvious of the wicked,
20for the evil man has no ^affuture;
^agthe lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, ^ahfear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

More Sayings of the Wise

23These also are sayings of ^aithe wise.

^ajPartiality in judging is not good.
24Whoever ^aksays to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
^alwill be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.
27 ^amPrepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.
28 ^anBe not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, ^ao“I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
30 ^apI passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man ^aqlacking sense,
31and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone ^arwall was broken down.
32Then I saw and ^asconsidered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33 ^atA little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.