Proverbs 24  Holman Christian Standard Bible

24 Don’t envy evil men^(A)
or desire to be with them,^(B)
2 for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble.^(C)

³ A house is built by wisdom,^(D)
and it is established by understanding;
⁴ by knowledge the rooms are filled
with every precious and beautiful treasure.

⁵ A wise warrior is better than a strong one,^[a]
and a man of knowledge than one of strength;^[b](E)
6 for you should wage war with sound guidance—
victory comes with many counselors.^(F)

⁷ Wisdom is inaccessible to^[c] a fool;^(G)
he does not open his mouth at the gate.^(H)

⁸ The one who plots evil^(I)
will be called a schemer.
⁹ A foolish scheme is sin,
and a mocker is detestable to people.

¹⁰ If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.
¹¹ Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.^(J)
12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t He who weighs hearts^(K) consider it?
Won’t He who protects your life^(L) know?
Won’t He repay a person according to his work?^(M)

¹³ Eat honey,^(N) my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;^(O)
14 realize that wisdom is the same for you.^(P)
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade.^(Q)

¹⁵ Wicked man, don’t set an ambush,
at the camp of the righteous man;^(R)
don’t destroy his dwelling.
¹⁶ Though a righteous man falls seven times,
he will get up,^(S)
but the wicked will stumble into ruin.^(T)

¹⁷ Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,^(U)
18 or the Lord will see, be displeased,
and turn His wrath away from him.

¹⁹ Don’t be agitated by evildoers,
and don’t envy the wicked.^(V)
20 For the evil have no future;^(W)
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.^(X)

²¹ My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,^(Y)
and don’t associate with rebels,^[d]
22 for destruction from them will come suddenly;
who knows what distress these two can bring?

²³ These sayings also belong to the wise:^(Z)

It is not good to show partiality in judgment.^(AA)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”^(AB)—
people will curse him,^(AC) and tribes will denounce him;
²⁵ but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a generous blessing will come to them.

²⁶ He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.

²⁷ Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;^(AD)
afterward, build your house.

²⁸ Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause.^(AE)
Don’t deceive with your lips.
²⁹ Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me;
I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”^(AF)

³⁰ I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.
³¹ Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground,^(AG)
and the stone wall was ruined.
³² I saw, and took it to heart;
I looked, and received instruction:
³³ a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
³⁴ and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit.^(AH)