Proverbs 24

¹Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. ²For their heart studieth oppression, and their lips talk of mischief. ³Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: ⁴And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches. ⁵A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might. ⁶For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. ⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. ⁸He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person. ⁹The thought of the foolish is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. ¹⁰If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. ¹¹Deliver them that are carried away unto death, and those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back. ¹²If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this: doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his work? ¹³My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: ¹⁴So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul: if thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off. ¹⁵Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: ¹⁶For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked are overthrown by calamity. ¹⁷Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he is overthrown: ¹⁸Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. ¹⁹Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; neither be thou envious at the wicked: ²⁰For there will be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. ²¹My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: andmeddle not with them that are given to change: ²²For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the destruction of them both? ²³These also are sayingsof the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good. ²⁴He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him: ²⁵But to them that rebuke himshall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. ²⁶He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer. ²⁷Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house. ²⁸Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. ²⁹Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work. ³⁰I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. ³²Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction. ³³Yeta little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ³⁴So shall thy poverty come as a robber; and thy want as an armed man.