Proverbs 24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 24
1 [a]Do not envy the wicked,
nor desire to be with them;(A)
2 For their hearts plot violence,
and their lips speak of foul play.
3 By wisdom a house is built,
by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge its rooms are filled
with every precious and pleasing possession.
5 The wise are more powerful than the strong,
and the learned, than the mighty,(B)
6 For by strategy war is waged,
and victory depends on many counselors.(C)
7 [b]Wise words are beyond fools’ reach,(D)
in the assembly they do not open their mouth;
8 As they calculate how to do evil,
people brand them troublemakers.
9 The scheme of a fool gains no acceptance,
the scoffer is an abomination to the community.
10 [c]Did you fail in a day of adversity,
did your strength fall short?
11 Did you fail to rescue those who were being dragged off to death,[d]
those tottering, those near death,
12 because you said, “We didn’t know about it”?
Surely, the Searcher of hearts knows
and will repay all according to their deeds.(E)
13 [e]If you eat honey, my son, because it is good,
if pure honey is sweet to your taste,
14 Such, you must know, is wisdom to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.(F)
15 [f]Do not lie in wait at the abode of the just,
do not ravage their dwelling places;
16 Though the just fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble from only one mishap.
17 [g]Do not rejoice when your enemies fall,
and when they stumble, do not let your heart exult,
18 Lest the Lord see it, be displeased with you,
and withdraw his wrath from your enemies.
19 Do not be provoked at evildoers,
do not envy the wicked;
20 For the evil have no future,
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.(G)
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king;
have nothing to do with those who hate them;
22 For disaster will issue suddenly,
and calamity from them both, who knows when?
V. Further Sayings of the Wise[h]
23 These also are Words of the Wise:
To show partiality in judgment is not good.(H)
24 Whoever says to the guilty party, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by nations, scorned by peoples;
25 But those who render just verdicts will fare well,
and on them will come the blessing of prosperity.
26 An honest reply—
a kiss on the lips.[i]
27 Complete your outdoor tasks,
and arrange your work in the field;
afterward you can build your house.[j]
28 Do not testify falsely against your neighbor(I)
and so deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “As they did to me, so will I do to them;(J)
I will repay them according to their deeds.”[k]
30 [l]I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of one with no sense;
31 It was all overgrown with thistles;
its surface was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall broken down.
32 As I gazed at it, I reflected;
I saw and learned a lesson:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,(K)
a little folding of the arms to rest—
34 Then poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like a brigand.
Footnotes
- 24:1–22 A new section (24:1–14)—on the fates of the wicked and foolish—begins with a warning not to take the foolish as role models. The same admonition is repeated in 23:17–18 and 24:19–20. In 24:1, the verb means “to be jealous, zealous; to emulate.” The motive stated in the other passages—the wicked have no future—is indirectly stated here.
- 24:7–9 The verses are unclear; most scholars take them as two or even three single sayings, but, taken singly, the verses are banal. They are best taken as a single statement. Just as vv. 3–6 described the advantages of wisdom, so vv. 7–9 describe the disadvantages of its opposite, folly: it alienates one from the community (v. 7), for fools become notorious (v. 8), dooming their plans and ostracizing themselves.
- 24:10–12 Excuses for not coming to the aid of one’s neighbor in serious trouble do not suffice before God, who sees through self-serving excuses.
- 24:11 Rescue…death: perhaps refers to the legal rescue of those unjustly condemned to death.
- 24:13–14 God’s word is sometimes said to be sweeter than honey, e.g., Ps 119:101–103. Cf. also Ps 19:11; Prv 16:24; Ez 3:3; Sir 24:19–22.
- 24:15–16 The just will overcome every misfortune that oppresses them. Seven times is an indefinite number.
- 24:17–18 The admonition is linked to the previous by the words “fall” and “stumble.” Premature public celebration of the downfall of enemies equivalently preempts the retribution that belongs to God.
- 24:23–34
A little collection between the thirty sayings of 22:17–24:22 and the Hezekiah collection in chaps. 25–29. Its title (v. 23) suggests that editors took it as an appendix. At this point, the Greek edition of Proverbs begins to arrange the later sections of the book in a different order than the Hebrew edition.
An editor has arranged originally separate sayings into two parallel groups.
I. II. Conduct in court: Judges (vv. 24–25) Witnesses (v. 28) Speaking, thinking: Good speech (v. 26) Bad speech (v. 29) Wisdom in work: Positive (v. 27) Negative (vv. 30–34) - 24:26 The kiss is a gesture of respect and affection. The greatest sign of affection and respect for another is to tell that person the truth.
- 24:27 House: can refer to both the building and the family (cf. 2 Sm 7). In the context established by the placement noted above under 24:23, the saying means that neglect of one’s field is a sign that one is not building the house properly. In an agricultural society especially, the concept of household includes fields for animals and crops. On the metaphorical level, one must lay a careful preparation before embarking on a great project. This verse is sometimes interpreted as advocating careful and practical preparation for marriage.
- 24:29 Retribution is a long and complex process that belongs to the Lord, not to individuals. Cf. vv. 12d, 17–18.
- 24:30–34 Neglect of one’s fields through laziness ruins all plans to build a house (v. 27). This vignette is a teaching story, like those in 7:1–27; Ps 37:35–36.
箴言 24
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Traditional)
勸世箴言
24 你不要嫉妒惡人，也不要起意與他們相處。 2 因為他們的心圖謀強暴，他們的口談論奸惡。 3 房屋因智慧建造，又因聰明立穩， 4 其中因知識充滿各樣美好寶貴的財物。 5 智慧人大有能力，有知識的人力上加力。 6 你去打仗，要憑智謀，謀士眾多，人便得勝。 7 智慧極高，非愚昧人所能及，所以在城門內不敢開口。 8 設計作惡的，必稱為奸人。 9 愚妄人的思念乃是罪惡，褻慢者為人所憎惡。 10 你在患難之日若膽怯，你的力量就微小。 11 人被拉到死地，你要解救；人將被殺，你須攔阻。 12 你若說「這事我未曾知道」，那衡量人心的豈不明白嗎？保守你命的豈不知道嗎？他豈不按各人所行的報應各人嗎？ 13 我兒，你要吃蜜，因為是好的。吃蜂房下滴的蜜，便覺甘甜。 14 你心得了智慧，也必覺得如此。你若找著，至終必有善報，你的指望也不致斷絕。 15 你這惡人，不要埋伏攻擊義人的家，不要毀壞他安居之所。 16 因為義人雖七次跌倒，仍必興起，惡人卻被禍患傾倒。 17 你仇敵跌倒，你不要歡喜；他傾倒，你心不要快樂。 18 恐怕耶和華看見就不喜悅，將怒氣從仇敵身上轉過來。 19 不要為作惡的心懷不平，也不要嫉妒惡人。 20 因為惡人終不得善報，惡人的燈也必熄滅。 21 我兒，你要敬畏耶和華與君王，不要與反覆無常的人結交。 22 因為他們的災難必忽然而起，耶和華與君王所施行的毀滅，誰能知道呢？
23 以下也是智慧人的箴言。
審判時看人情面是不好的。 24 對惡人說「你是義人」的，這人萬民必咒詛，列邦必憎惡。 25 責備惡人的必得喜悅，美好的福也必臨到他。 26 應對正直的，猶如與人親嘴。 27 你要在外頭預備工料，在田間辦理整齊，然後建造房屋。 28 不可無故作見證陷害鄰舍，也不可用嘴欺騙人。 29 不可說：「人怎樣待我，我也怎樣待他，我必照他所行的報復他。」 30 我經過懶惰人的田地，無知人的葡萄園， 31 荊棘長滿了地皮，刺草遮蓋了田面，石牆也坍塌了。 32 我看見就留心思想，我看著就領了訓誨。 33 再睡片時，打盹片時，抱著手躺臥片時， 34 你的貧窮就必如強盜速來，你的缺乏彷彿拿兵器的人來到。
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