Proverbs 24
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNew Living Translation
1Don't envy evil men or desire to be with them, 1Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.
2for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble. 2For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.
3A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding; 3A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
4by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure. 4Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
5A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength; 5The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.
6for you should wage war with sound guidance-- victory comes with many counselors. 6So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.
7Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the gate. 7Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.
8The one who plots evil will be called a schemer. 8A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
9A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to people. 9The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.
10If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited. 10If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.
11Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter. 11Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.
12If you say, "But we didn't know about this," won't He who weighs hearts consider it? Won't He who protects your life know? Won't He repay a person according to his work? 12Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
13Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; 13My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade. 14In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.
15Wicked man, don't set an ambush, at the camp of the righteous man; don't destroy his dwelling. 15Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.
16Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin. 16The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
17Don't gloat when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, 17Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.
18or the LORD will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him. 18For the LORD will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.
19Don't be agitated by evildoers, and don't envy the wicked. 19Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked.
20For the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. 20For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21My son, fear the LORD, as well as the king, and don't associate with rebels, 21My child, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,
22for destruction from them will come suddenly; who knows what distress these two can bring? 22for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the LORD and the king? More Sayings of the Wise
23These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. 23Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
24Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"-- people will curse him, and tribes will denounce him; 24A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them. 25But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.
26He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips. 26An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.
27Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward, build your house. 27Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.
28Don't testify against your neighbor without cause. Don't deceive with your lips. 28Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them.
29Don't say, "I'll do to him what he did to me; I'll repay the man for what he has done." 29And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”
30I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense. 30I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.
31Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined. 31I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.
32I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction: 32Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:
33a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, 33A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
34and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit. 34then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 23
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