Proverbs 24

1Be not
thou envious
against evil men,
neither desire
to be with them.

2For
their heart
studieth destruction, and
their lips talk
of mischief.

3Through wisdom
is an house builded; and
by understanding
it is established:

4And by knowledge
shall the chambers
be filled with
all precious and
pleasant riches.

5A wise man
is strong;
yea,
a man of knowledge
increaseth strength.

6For
by wise counsel
thou shalt make thy war:
and in 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
shall be called
a mischievous person.

9The thought
of foolishness
is sin:
and the scorner
is an abomination
to men.

10If thou faint
in the day of adversity,
thy strength
is small.

11If thou forbear
to deliver them
that are drawn
unto death,
and those that
are ready
to be slain;

12If 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?

13My son,
eat thou honey,
because it is good;
and the honeycomb,
which is sweet
to thy taste:

14So 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.

15Lay not wait,
O wicked man,
against the dwelling
of the righteous;
spoil not his resting place:

16For a just man
falleth seven times,
and riseth up again:
but the wicked
shall fall into mischief.

17Rejoice not
when thine enemy falleth,
and let not thine heart
be glad when
he stumbleth:

18Lest the LORD
see it,
and it displease him,
and he turn away
his wrath from him.

19Fret not thyself
because of evil men,
neither be thou envious
at the wicked:

20For there shall be
no reward to the evil man;
the candle of the wicked
shall be put out.

21My son,
fear thou the LORD
and the king: and
meddle not with them
that are given to change:

22For their calamity
shall rise suddenly;
and who knoweth the ruin
of them both?

23These things also
belong to the wise.
It is not good
to have respect of persons
in judgment.

24He that saith
unto the wicked,
Thou are righteous;
him shall the people curse,
nations shall abhor him:

25But to them
that rebuke him
shall be delight,
and a good blessing
shall come upon them.

26Every man
shall kiss his lips
that giveth a right answer.

27Prepare thy work
without, and make it
fit for thyself
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,
and nettles had covered
the face thereof,
and the stone wall thereof
was broken down.

32Then I saw,
and considered it well:
I looked upon it,
and received instruction.

33Yet a little sleep,
a little slumber,
a little folding
of the hands to sleep:

34So shall thy poverty
come as
one that travelleth; and
thy want as an armed man.