Proverbs 24

Saying 20

1 Do not envy evil people or desire to roll with them.

2 Their hearts plot violence, their lips talk trouble.

3 By wisdom a house built, by understanding it stands firm.

4 By knowledge rooms get filled with treasure and wealth.

5 A wise man strong; a man of knowledge boosts power.

6 You need guidance to wage war; victory comes through many counselors.

7 Wisdom too high for fools; they do not speak up at the gate.

8 Whoever plots evil gets called a schemer.

9 A fool’s plan sinful, and mockers hated by people.

10 If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength small.

11 Rescue those being led to death; hold back those stumbling to slaughter.

12 If you say, “I did not know,” does He not who weighs hearts perceive it, He watches your soul and pays each person by their works.

13 My son, eat honey, it is good; the honeycomb sweet to your taste.

14 Know that wisdom sweet for your soul; if you find it, there is a future, your hope will not die.

15 Do not ambush the righteous or wreck his home.

16 Though the righteous fall seven times, they get back up; but the wicked stumble when disaster hits.

17 Do not celebrate when your enemy falls, do not rejoice when he trips.

18 Or the Lord will see and turn His anger away from him.

19 Do not stress over evildoers or envy the wicked.

20 They got no future; the lamp of the wicked snuffed out.

21 Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not rebel with troublemakers.

22 Destruction comes fast on them both; who knows what disaster hits them,

More Sayings of the Wise

23 These also from the wise: Showing partiality in judgment is not good.

24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” gets cursed by people and hated by nations.

25 But it goes well with those who judge fairly; blessings rest on them.

26 An honest answer like a kiss on the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside; get your fields ready; then build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor for any reason, do not lie with your lips.

29 Do not say, “I will do to him what he did to me; I will pay him back!”

30 I passed by a lazy man’s field, by a vineyard of someone with no sense.

31 Thorns covered it, weeds filled it, and the stone wall broken down.

32 I watched, thought about it, and learned a lesson:

33 A little sleep, a little nap, a little folding hands to rest.

34 And poverty sneaks up like a thief, scarcity like an armed man.