Proverbs 24:1-12

English Standard Version

24 Be not ^(A)envious of evil men,
nor desire to be ^(B)with them,
²for their hearts ^(C)devise violence,
and their lips ^(D)talk of trouble.

³By ^(E)wisdom a house is built,
    and by understanding it is established;
⁴by knowledge the rooms are filled
    with all ^(F)precious and pleasant riches.
⁵^(G)A wise man is full of strength,
    and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
⁶for by ^(H)wise guidance you can wage your war,
    and in ^(I)abundance of counselors there is victory.
⁷Wisdom is ^(J)too high for a fool;
    in ^(K)the gate he does not open his mouth.

⁸Whoever ^(L)plans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
⁹^(M)The devising^[a] of folly is sin,
and ^(N)the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

¹⁰If you ^(O)faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.
¹¹^(P)Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
¹²If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    ^(Q)does not he who ^(R)weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who ^(S)keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man ^(T)according to his work?