Proverbs 24
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1Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;1Don't be envious of wicked men or wish you were with them,
2For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking.2because they plan violence, and they are always talking about trouble.
3Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;3By wisdom a house is built; it is made secure through understanding.
4By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.4By knowledge its rooms are furnished with all sorts of expensive and beautiful goods.
5A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;5A wise man is strong, and a knowledgeable man grows in strength.
6For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.6For through wise counsel you will wage your war, and victory lies in an abundance of advisors.
7Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate.7Wisdom lies beyond reach of the fool; he has nothing to say in court.
8He who plots to do evil Will be called a schemer.8The person who plans on doing evil will be called a schemer.
9The devising of foolishness is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men.9To devise folly is sin, and people detest a scoffer.
10If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.10If you grow weary when times are troubled, your strength is limited.
11Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.11Rescue those who are being led away to death, and save those who stumble toward 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?12If you say, "Look here, we didn't know about this," doesn't God, who examines motives, discern it? Doesn't the one who guards your soul know about it? Won't he repay each person according to what he has done?
13My son, eat honey because it is good, And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;13My son, eat honey, because it's good for you; indeed, drippings from the honeycomb are sweet to your taste;
14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you have found it, there is a prospect, And your hope will not be cut off.14Keep in mind that wisdom is like that for your soul; if you find it, there will be a future for you, and what you hope for won't be cut short.
15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not plunder his resting place;15Don't lie in wait like an outlaw to attack where the righteous live;
16For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.16for though a righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again, but the wicked stumble into calamity.
17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;17Don't rejoice when your enemy falls; don't let yourself be glad when he stumbles.
18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.18Otherwise the LORD will observe and disapprove, and he will turn his anger away from him.
19Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked;19Don't be anxious about those who practice evil, and don't be envious of the wicked.
20For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.20For the wicked man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
21My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those given to change;21My son, fear both the LORD and the king, and don't keep company with rebels.
22For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin those two can bring?22They will be destroyed suddenly, and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?
23These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.23Here are some more proverbs from wise people: It isn't good to show partiality in judgment.
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him.24Whoever says to the wicked, "You're in the right," will be cursed by people and hated by nations.
25But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.25But as for people who rebuke the wicked; a good blessing will fall upon them.
26He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.26A kiss on the lips— that's what someone who gives an honest answer deserves.
27Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.27First do your outside work, preparing your land for yourself. After that, build your house.
28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips?28Don't testify against your neighbor without a cause, and don't lie when you speak.
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.”29Don't say, "I'll do to him like he did to me, I'll be sure to pay him back for what he did."
30I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;30I went by the field belonging to a lazy man, by a vineyard belonging to a senseless person.
31And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down.31There it was, overgrown with thistles, the ground covered with thorns, its stone wall collapsed.
32When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:32As I observed, I thought about it; I watched, and learned a lesson:
33A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest;33"A little sleep! A little slumber! A little folding of my hands to rest!"
34So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.34Then your poverty will come upon you like a robber, your need like an armed bandit.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
Proverbs 23
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