ProverbsChapter 24
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1Do not be jealous of wicked men.
Do not want to be with them. 2For their hearts plan violence.
Their lips talk about making trouble. 3A house is built by wisdom.
It is made strong by understanding. 4By knowledge its rooms are filled
with every kind of rare and beautiful treasure. 5A wise man is strong.
A man with knowledge adds to his strength. 6Only go to war with good guidance.
Victory comes from having many advisers. 7Wisdom is too high for a fool.
He does not open his mouth at the city gate. 8Whoever plans evil
will be called a schemer. 9A foolish plan is sin.
People hate a mocker. 10If you give up when times are hard,
your strength is very small! 11Rescue those who are being led away to death.
Hold back those who are stumbling toward being killed. 12If you say, "Look, we didn't know about this,"
doesn't the one who weighs hearts see it?
Doesn't the one who guards your life know it?
Won't he pay back each person for what he has done? 13My son, eat honey, because it is good.
Honey from the comb tastes sweet. 14So know that wisdom is sweet to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a future.
Your hope will never be cut off. 15Wicked man, do not hide and wait near the home of one who does right.
Do not destroy the place where he rests. 16For a man who does right may fall seven times, but he still gets up.
But the wicked trip and fall when trouble comes. 17Do not be glad when your enemy falls.
Do not let your heart be happy when he trips. 18If you do, the LORD will see it and not be pleased.
He will turn his anger away from your enemy. 19Do not get upset because of evil people.
Do not be jealous of the wicked. 20For the evil man has no future.
The lamp of the wicked will go out. 21My son, fear the LORD and the king.
Do not join with those who rebel. 22For they will bring sudden ruin.
Who knows what disaster they can cause? 23These are also sayings of the wise:
It is not good to take sides when judging. 24Someone may tell the guilty, "You are innocent."
Peoples will curse him, and nations will speak against him. 25But things will go well for those who judge the guilty to be guilty.
Great blessing will come on them. 26Giving an honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips. 27Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready.
After that, you can build your house. 28Do not speak against your neighbor without a reason.
Do not trick people with your lips. 29Do not say, "I'll do to him what he did to me.
I'll pay him back for what he has done." 30I walked past the field of a lazy man.
I passed the vineyard of a man with no sense. 31Thorns had grown up everywhere.
Weeds covered the ground.
The stone wall was broken down. 32I saw it and thought hard about it.
I looked and learned a lesson: 33A little sleep, a little nap,
a little folding of the hands to rest, 34and being poor will come on you like a robber.
Need will come on you like a bandit.