Proverbs 24:1-14 ▼

1 Be not envious of evil men, And desire not to be with them.

2 For destruction doth their heart meditate, And perverseness do their lips speak.

3 By wisdom is a house builded, And by understanding it establisheth itself.

4 And by knowledge the inner parts are filled, With all precious and pleasant wealth.

5 Mighty is the wise in strength, And a man of knowledge is strengthening power,

6 For by plans thou makest for thyself war, And deliverance is in a multitude of counsellors.

7 Wisdom is high for a fool, In the gate he openeth not his mouth.

8 Whoso is devising to do evil, Him they call a master of wicked thoughts.

9 The thought of folly is sin, And an abomination to man is a scorner.

10 Thou hast shewed thyself weak in a day of adversity, Straitened is thy power,

11 If from delivering those taken to death, And those slipping to the slaughter -- thou keepest back.

12 When thou sayest, 'Lo, we knew not this.' Is not the Ponderer of hearts He who understandeth? And the Keeper of thy soul He who knoweth? And He hath rendered to man according to his work.

13 Eat my son, honey that is good, And the honeycomb -- sweet to thy palate.

14 So is the knowledge of wisdom to thy soul, If thou hast found that there is a posterity And thy hope is not cut off.