Aa
1Don’t envy the evil24:1 Ps 37:1; Pr 23:17; 24:19
or desire to be with them,24:1 Ps 1:1; Pr 1:15
2for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble.24:2 Ps 10:7

3A house is built by wisdom,24:3 Pr 14:1
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,24:5 LXX, Syr; MT reads is in strength
and a man of knowledge than one of strength;24:5 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads knowledge exerts strength24:5 Pr 21:22
6for you should wage war with sound guidance —
victory comes with many counselors.24:6 Pr 11:14; 15:22; 20:18

7Wisdom is inaccessible to24:7 Lit is too high for a fool;24:7 Pr 14:6; 17:16,24
he does not open his mouth at the city gate.24:7 Jb 5:4; Ps 127:5

8The one who plots evil24:8 Rm 1:30
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.24:11 Ps 82:4; Is 58:6–7
12If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t he who weighs hearts24:12 1Sm 16:7; Ps 44:21; Pr 21:2 consider it?
Won’t he who protects your life24:12 Ps 121:3–8 know?
Won’t he repay a person according to his work?24:12 Jb 34:11; Ps 62:12

13Eat honey,24:13 Pr 25:16 my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;24:13 Sg 5:1
14realize that wisdom is the same for you.24:14 Ps 19:10; 119:103
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade.24:14 Pr 10:28; 23:18; Jr 29:11

15Don’t set an ambush, you wicked one,
at the camp of the righteous man;24:15 Pr 10:9–10
don’t destroy his dwelling.
16Though a righteous person falls seven times,
he will get up,24:16 Jb 5:19; Ps 37:24
but the wicked will stumble into ruin.24:16 Pr 14:32; 29:16

17Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,24:17 Ps 35:15,19; Pr 17:5; Ob 12; Mc 7:8
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.24:19 Ps 37:1; Pr 23:17; 24:1
20For the evil have no future;24:20 Ps 37:38; Pr 14:11; 16:25
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.24:20 2Sm 21:17; Jb 18:5; 21:17; Pr 13:9; 20:20

21My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,24:21 Mt 22:21; Rm 13:1–7; 1Pt 2:13–14,17
and don’t associate with rebels,24:21 Or those given to change
22for destruction will come suddenly from them;
who knows what distress these two can bring?

23These sayings also belong to the wise:24:23 Pr 1:6; 22:17
It is not good to show partiality in judgment.24:23 Dt 1:17; 16:19; Pr 18:5; 28:21
24Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”24:24 Pr 17:15 —
peoples will curse him,24:24 Pr 11:26 and nations 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;24:27 Pr 20:4
afterward, build your house.

28Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause.24:28 Ex 20:16; Pr 25:18
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.”24:29 Dt 32:35; Pr 20:22; Mt 5:39; Rm 12:17,19

30I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.
31Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground,24:31 Gn 3:18; Pr 20:4
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,
and your need, like a bandit.24:34 Pr 6:10–11; 20:13