Proverbs 24
1Be not thou envious against evil
men, neither desire to be with them.
2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips
talk of mischief.
3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding
it is established:
4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with
all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth
strength.
6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and
in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his
mouth in the gate.
8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous
person.
9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner
is an abomination to men.
10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength
is small.
11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto
death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not
he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every
man according to his works?
13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and
the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul:
when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling
of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up
again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not
thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and
he turn away his wrath from him.
19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be
thou envious at the wicked:
20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the
candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle
not with them that are given to change:
22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who
knoweth the ruin of them both?
23These things also belong to the wise. It is not
good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous;
him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and
a good blessing shall come upon them.
26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right
answer.
27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself
in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause;
and deceive not with thy lips.
29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to
me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the
vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and
nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon
it, and received instruction.
33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding
of the hands to sleep:
34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth;
and thy want as an armed man.
