Proverbs 24

1Do not envy evil men, nor desire their desires to be with them.

2For their hearts meditate destruction, and their lips speak trouble.

3A house is built by wisdom, and by understanding it is established.

4By knowledge the rooms are filled with all costly and pleasant riches.

5A wise man is mighty, and a man of knowledge establishes strength.

6For by good counsel you conduct your war, and deliverance is in a multitude of counselors.

7Wisdom is too exalted for a fool in the gate; he does not open his mouth.

8One who plans to do evil will be called a master of schemes.

9Folly's schemes are sin, and the scoffer is detestable to people.

10If you weaken in the day of adversity, your strength is feeble.

11Deliver those being taken to death and those staggering to the slaughter; if you hold back.

12If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the hearts discern it? Does he who guards your soul not know? Will he not repay a person according to his deed?

13My son, eat honey, for it is good, and honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

14So know wisdom for your soul; if you have found it, there will be a reward, and your hope will not be cut off.

15Do not lie in wait, wicked one, against the righteous person's dwelling; do not destroy his resting place.

16For a righteous person falls seven times and rises, but the wicked stumble in calamity.

17Do not rejoice over your enemy's downfall, nor let your heart exult when he stumbles.

18Lest Yahweh see it and it be evil in his eyes, and he turn his anger away from him.

19Do not get angry because of wrongdoers, nor envy the ungodly.

20For there will be no future for evil; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

21My son, fear Yahweh and the king; do not meddle with changers.

22For their disaster will arise suddenly—who knows destruction from both of them?

23These also are of the wise: it is not good to show respect for persons in judgment.

24Whoever says to the wicked, "You are righteous," peoples will curse him; nations will abhor him.

25But it will be pleasant to those who convict, and a good blessing will come upon them.

26He who answers with right words kisses the lips.

27Prepare your work outside, and ready it in the field for yourself; afterward, build your house.

28Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause, nor deceive with your lips.

29Do not say, "As he has done to me, so I will do to him; I will repay the man according to his deed."

30I passed by the field of a certain sluggard-man and by the vineyard of another man lacking heart.

31Look, thorns had grown up all over it, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone wall had crumbled.

32I looked and applied it to my heart; I saw and took instruction.

33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little clasping of hands to lie down.

34Your poverty will come like one walking, and your needs like an armed man.