The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Proverbs 24
1 Don’t be envious of evil men,
neither desire to be with them;
2 for their hearts plot violence
and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Through wisdom a house is built;
by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise man has great power.
A knowledgeable man increases
strength,
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war,
and victory is in many advisors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool.
He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 One who plots to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin.
The mocker is detested by men.
10 If you falter in the time of trouble,
your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being led away to
death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12 If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,”
doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it?
Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
the droppings of the honeycomb,
which are sweet to your taste;
14 so you shall know wisdom to be to your
soul. If you have found it, then there will be
a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against
the habitation of the righteous.
Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 for a righteous manfalls seventimes and
rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by
calamity.
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls.
Don’t let your heart be glad when he is
overthrown,
18 lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him,
and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers,
neither be envious of the wicked;
20 for there will be no reward to the evil
man. The lamp ofthe wicked will be snuffed
out.
21 My son, fear Yahweh and the king.
Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly.
Who knows what destruction may
come from them both?
23 These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are
righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations
will abhor him—
25 but it will go well with those who convict
the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside,
and get your fields ready.
Afterwards, build your house.
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor
without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done
to me; I will repay the man according to his
work.”
30 I went by the field of the sluggard,
by the vineyard of the man void of
understanding.
31 Behold, it was all grown over with
thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered well.
I saw, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 so your poverty will come as a robber
and your want as an armed man.