Proverbs 24
Tree of Life Version
24 Do not envy evil people,
or desire to be with them,
2 for their hearts contemplate violence,
and their lips speak mischief.
Strength Through Wise Counsel
3 By wisdom a house is built,
by understanding it is prepared,
4 and by knowledge its rooms are filled
with every rare and pleasing treasure.
5 A wise man is strong,
and a man of knowledge
becomes even stronger.
6 For with wise advice you wage war
and in many counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is unattainable for a fool—
he does not open his mouth at the gate.
8 One who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 A foolish scheme is sin,
and people detest a mocker.
Counsel on Friendship
10 If you falter in a day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 Rescue those being dragged off to death,
hold back those stumbling to slaughter.
12 If you say, “Look, we didn’t know this.”
Won’t He who weighs hearts perceive it?
Won’t He who guards your soul know it?
Won’t He repay each one according to his deeds?[a]
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good,
and honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14 Likewise know that wisdom is sweet to your soul.
If you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lurk like the wicked near the dwelling of the righteous.
Do not assault his home.
16 For though the righteous one may fall seven times,
he gets up again, but the wicked stumble in adversity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
or let your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 or Adonai may see it as evil in His eyes,
and turn His wrath away from him.
19 Do not be upset because of evil people,
or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evil person has no future,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 My son, fear Adonai and the king,[b]
and do not associate with rebels.
22 For their destruction will arise suddenly,
and who knows the ruin both Adonai and the king can bring?
23 These sayings are also from the wise:
Partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Whoever tells the guilty,
“You are innocent,” people curse him and nations revile him.
25 But for those who convict the guilty there will be delight—
good blessing will come upon them.
26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Finish your outdoor work
and get your fields ready.
After that, build your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me;
I will pay him back for his deed!”[c]
Lesson of the Lazy
30 I passed by the field of the slacker,
by the vineyard of one lacking judgment.
31 Surprisingly, it was all overgrown with thorns,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I took to heart what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 “A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep,”
34 then your poverty comes tramping in,
and your need like an armed soldier.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:12 cf. Rom. 2:6.
- Proverbs 24:21 cf. Rom. 13:1-5.
- Proverbs 24:29 cf. Matt. 5:39; Rom. 12:17, 19.
Proverbs 24
Revised Standard Version
24 Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them;
2 for their minds devise violence,
and their lips talk of mischief.
3 By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is mightier than a strong man,[a]
and a man of knowledge than he who has strength;
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 He who plans to do evil
will be called a mischief-maker.
9 The devising of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not requite man according to his work?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do not violence to his home;
16 for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again;
but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 lest the Lord see it, and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not envious of the wicked;
20 for the evil man has no future;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king,
and do not disobey either of them;[b]
22 for disaster from them will rise suddenly,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of the wise.
Partiality in judging is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations;
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will be upon them.
26 He who gives a right answer
kisses the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside,
get everything ready for you in the field;
and after that build your house.
28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
30 I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man without sense;
31 and lo, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:5 Gk Compare Syr Tg: Heb is in strength
- Proverbs 24:21 Gk: Heb do not associate with those who change
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.