Proverbs 24:23–34

These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.

Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”

will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,

and a good blessing will come upon them.

Whoever gives an honest answer

kisses the lips.

Prepare your work outside;

get everything ready for yourself in the field,

and after that build your house.

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,

and do not deceive with your lips.

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;

I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

I passed by the field of a sluggard,

by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw and considered it;

I looked and received instruction.

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

These sayings also belong to the wise:

It is not good to show partiality in judgment.

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

peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

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

and a generous blessing will come to them.

He who gives an honest answer

gives a kiss on the lips.

Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;

afterward, build your house.

Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause.

Don’t deceive with your lips.

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

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

I went by the field of a slacker

and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.

Thistles had come up everywhere,

weeds covered the ground,

and the stone wall was ruined.

I saw, and took it to heart;

I looked, and received instruction:

a little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest,

and your poverty will come like a robber,

and your need, like a bandit.

Here are some further sayings of the wise:

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.

A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”

will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.

But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;

rich blessings will be showered on them.

An honest answer

is like a kiss of friendship.

Do your planning and prepare your fields

before building your house.

Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause;

don’t lie about them.

And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me!

I’ll get even with them!”

I walked by the field of a lazy person,

the vineyard of one with no common sense.

I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.

It was covered with weeds,

and its walls were broken down.

Then, as I looked and thought about it,

I learned this lesson:

A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest—

then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;

scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

These sayings are also for the wise:

Partiality in judgment is not good.

Whoever says to the guilty, “You are righteous,” the people will curse him;

the nations will abhor him.

But they who rebuke will have delight,

and upon them blessings of goodness will come.

He will kiss the lips,

he who gives an honest answer.

Prepare your work in the street and get it ready for yourself in the field;

afterward, then you shall build your house.

Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor

nor deceive with your lips.

Do not say, “Just as he has done to me, so shall I do to him;

I will pay back the man according to his deed.”

I passed by the field of a lazy person,

and over the vineyard of a person lacking sense;

and behold, it was overgrown—all of it was covered with thorns, its surface with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I myself saw and my heart considered;

I looked, and I took hold of instruction:

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands for rest,

and your poverty will come running,

and your lack like an armed warrior.

These things also belong to the wise.

It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous;

Him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

But to them that rebuke him shall be delight,

And a good blessing shall come upon them.

Every man shall kiss his lips

That giveth a right answer.

Prepare thy work without,

And make it fit for thyself in the field;

And afterwards build thine house.

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause;

And deceive not with thy lips.

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me:

I will render to the man according to his work.

I went by the field of the slothful,

And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,

And nettles had covered the face thereof,

And the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Then I saw, and considered it well:

I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth;

And thy want as an armed man.