Proverbs 24

Son, do not envy evil men, nor desire to be with them.

For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak troubles.

With wisdom a house is built, and with understanding it is set upright.

With perception the storerooms are filled with all precious and goodly wealth.

A wise man is better than a strong one, and a man having prudence than a great farm.

With guidance war is waged, and help comes with a counselling heart.

Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise; the wise do not turn aside from the mouth of the Lord.

But they take counsel in the assemblies; death meets the undisciplined.

A fool dies in sins, and uncleanness will be smeared upon a pestilent man.

In an evil day and in a day of affliction, until he gives out.

Rescue those being led away to death, and ransom those being slain; do not hold back.

But if you say, 'I do not know this man', know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he who formed breath for all, he himself knows all things, who renders to each according to his works.

Eat honey, son, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.

So you will perceive wisdom for your soul; for if you find it, your end will be good, and hope will not forsake you.

Do not bring an ungodly man to the pasture of the righteous, nor be deceived by the filling of the belly.

For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the ungodly grow weak in evils.

If your enemy falls, do not rejoice over him, and at his stumbling do not be lifted up.

For the Lord will see it and it will not please him, and he will turn his wrath away from him.

Do not rejoice over evildoers, nor envy sinners.

For the offspring of the wicked will not come to be, and the lamp of the ungodly will be quenched.

Fear God, son, and the king, and do not disobey either of them.

For suddenly they will punish the ungodly, and who will know the penalties that come from them both? A son who keeps the word will be outside destruction; and in receiving it he has truly received it. Let no lie be spoken from the tongue to a king, and let no lie go forth from his tongue. The tongue of a king is a sword and not of flesh; and whoever is handed over will be crushed. For if his wrath is sharpened, he consumes men together with their sinews, and gnaws through the bones of men, and burns them up like a flame, so that they are not even edible for the young of eagles.

These things I say to you who are wise to discern: to show partiality in judgment is not good.

He who says of the ungodly, 'He is righteous', will be accursed among peoples and hateful to nations.

But those who reprove will be shown to be better, and a good blessing will come upon them.

And lips that answer with good words will be kissed.

Prepare your works for going out, and make ready for the field, and walk behind me, and you will rebuild your house.

Do not be a false witness against your fellow citizen, nor open wide with your lips.

Do not say, 'As he dealt with me, so I will deal with him; I will repay him for the wrongs he did me.'

A foolish man is like a farm, and a man lacking sense like a vineyard.

If you leave it alone, it will run to waste and will be overgrown with weeds throughout, and it becomes abandoned; and its stone walls are torn down.

Afterwards I changed my mind; I looked upon it so as to choose instruction.

A little I doze, a little I sleep, a little I fold my hands over my chest.

But if you do this, your poverty will come marching ahead, and your want like a good runner.