1Do not be envious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;
2For their heart devises violence,
And their lips talk of troublemaking.
3Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
6For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
7Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8He who plots to do evil
Will be called a 24:8 Lit. master of evil plotsschemer.
9The devising of foolishness is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10If you faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is small.
11Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
12If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
13My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
If you have found it, there is a 24:14 Lit. latter endprospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
16For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
And He turn away His wrath from him.
19Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
20For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21My son, fear the Lord and the king;
Do not associate with those given to change;
22For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin those two can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
It is not good to 24:23 Lit. recognize facesshow partiality in judgment.
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
25But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
26He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
27Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house.
28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
24:28 LXX, Vg. Do not deceiveFor would you deceive with your lips?
29Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
30I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
31And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
I looked on it and received instruction:
33A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
And your need like 24:34 Lit. a man with a shieldan armed man.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
