Proverbs 24

24Don’t envy evil men ^m

or desire to be with them, ⁿ

²for their hearts plan violence,

and their words stir up trouble. ^o

³A house is built by wisdom, ^p

and it is established by understanding;

⁴by knowledge the rooms are filled

with every precious and beautiful treasure.

⁵A wise warrior is better than a strong one, ^q

and a man of knowledge than one of strength; ^rs

⁶for you should wage war with sound guidance—

victory comes with many counselors. ^t

⁷Wisdom is inaccessible to ^ua fool; ^v

he does not open his mouth at the gate. ^w

⁸The one who plots evil ^x

will be called a schemer.

⁹A foolish scheme is sin,

and a mocker is detestable to people.

¹⁰If you do nothing in a difficult time,

your strength is limited.

¹¹Rescue those being taken off to death,

and save those stumbling toward slaughter. ^y

¹²If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”

won’t He who weighs hearts ^zconsider it?

Won’t He who protects your life ^aknow?

Won’t He repay a person according to his work? ^b

¹³Eat honey, ^cmy son, for it is good,

and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; ^d

¹⁴realize that wisdom is the same for you. ^e

If you find it, you will have a future,

and your hope will never fade. ^f

¹⁵Wicked man, don’t set an ambush,

at the camp of the righteous man; ^g

don’t destroy his dwelling.

¹⁶Though a righteous man falls seven times,

he will get up, ^h

but the wicked will stumble into ruin. ⁱ

¹⁷Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,

and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, ^j

¹⁸or the Lord will see, be displeased,

and turn His wrath away from him.

¹⁹Don’t be agitated by evildoers,

and don’t envy the wicked. ^k

²⁰For the evil have no future; ^l

the lamp of the wicked will be put out. ^m

²¹My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king, ⁿ

and don’t associate with rebels, ^o

²²for destruction from them will come suddenly;

who knows what distress these two can bring?

²³These sayings also belong to the wise: ^p

It is not good to show partiality in judgment. ^q

²⁴Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent” ^r—

people will curse him, ^sand tribes will denounce him;

²⁵but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,

and a generous blessing will come to them.

²⁶He who gives an honest answer

gives a kiss on the lips.

²⁷Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; ^t

afterward, build your house.

²⁸Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. ^u

Don’t deceive with your lips.

²⁹Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me;

I’ll repay the man for what he has done.” ^v

³⁰I went by the field of a slacker

and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.

³¹Thistles had come up everywhere,

weeds covered the ground, ^w

and the stone wall was ruined.

³²I saw, and took it to heart;

I looked, and received instruction:

³³a little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest,

³⁴and your poverty will come like a robber,

your need, like a bandit. ^x