24:1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire
to be with them.
24:2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
24:3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
24:4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent
wealth.
24:5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than
a large estate.
24:6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of
a counsellor.
24:7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise
turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
24:8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
24:9 The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent
man.
24:10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction,
until he be utterly consumed.
24:11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are
appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help].
24:12 But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord
knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all
things, who renders to every man according to his works.
24:13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be
sweetened.
24:14 Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it,
thine end shall be good, and ope shall not fail thee.
24:15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither
be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
24:16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the
ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
24:17 If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at
his overthrow.
24:18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will
turn away his wrath from him.
24:19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
24:20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked
shall be put out.
24:21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
24:22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the
vengeance [inflicted] by both? [[A son that keeps the commandment shall
escape destruction; for [such an one] has fully received it. Let no
falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood
proceed from his tongue. The king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh;
and whosoever shall be given up to [it] shall be destroyed: for if his wrath
should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men's bones, and
burns them up as a flame, so that they are not [even] fit to be eaten by the
young eagles. [My] son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.]]
24:23 And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is
not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24:24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by
peoples, and hateful among the nations.
24:25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing
shall come upon them;
24:26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
24:27 Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, and prepare thyself for the
field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.
24:28 Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, neither
exaggerate with thy lips.
24:29 Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge
myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
24:30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
24:31 If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered
with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
24:32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
24:33 [The sluggard says,] I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for
a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
24:34 But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like
a swift courier. |
24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men,
neither desire to be with them.
24:2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
24:3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is
established:
24:4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and
pleasant riches.
24:5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of
counsellors there is safety.
24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
24:8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to
men.
24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
24:11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those
that are ready to be slain;
24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the
heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and
shall not he render to every man according to his works?
24:13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which
is sweet to thy taste:
24:14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast
found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut
off.
24:15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
spoil not his resting place:
24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the
wicked shall fall into mischief.
24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad
when he stumbleth:
24:18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath
from him.
24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the
wicked:
24:20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked
shall be put out.
24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that
are given to change:
24:22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of
them both?
24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect
of persons in judgment.
24:24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the
people curse, nations shall abhor him:
24:25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing
shall come upon them.
24:26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field;
and afterwards build thine house.
24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not
with thy lips.
24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to
the man according to his work.
24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man
void of understanding;
24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered
the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received
instruction.
24:33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to
sleep:
24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an
armed man. |