Proverbs 24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 Do not envy the wicked,
nor desire to be with them,(A)
2 for their minds devise violence,
and their lips talk of mischief.(B)
3 By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;(C)
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones[a]
and those who have knowledge than those who have strength,(D)
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.(E)
7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the gate they do not open their mouths.(F)
8 Whoever plans to do evil
will be called a mischief-maker.(G)
9 The devising of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to all.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength being small;(H)
11 if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death,
those who go staggering to the slaughter;(I)
12 if you say, “Look, 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 repay all according to their deeds?(J)
13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.(K)
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, you will find a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.(L)
15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous;
do no violence to the place where the righteous live;(M)
16 for though they fall seven times, they will rise again,
but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.(N)
17 Do not rejoice when your enemies fall,
and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble,(O)
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased
and turn away his anger from them.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers.
Do not envy the wicked,(P)
20 for the evil have no future;
the lamp of the wicked will go out.(Q)
21 My child, fear the Lord and the king,
and do not disobey either of them,[b](R)
22 for disaster comes from them suddenly,
and who knows the ruin that both can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of the wise:
Partiality in judging is not good.(S)
24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,(T)
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.(U)
26 One who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for you in the field;
and after that build your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.(V)
29 Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me;
I will pay them back for what they have done.”(W)
30 I passed by the field of one who was lazy,
by the vineyard of a stupid person,(X)
31 and see, 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,(Y)
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want, like an armed warrior.
Proverbs 24
New Living Translation
24 Don’t envy evil people
or desire their company.
2 For their hearts plot violence,
and their words always stir up trouble.
3 A house is built by wisdom
and becomes strong through good sense.
4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled
with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
5 The wise are mightier than the strong,[a]
and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.
6 So don’t go to war without wise guidance;
victory depends on having many advisers.
7 Wisdom is too lofty for fools.
Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.
8 A person who plans evil
will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
9 The schemes of a fool are sinful;
everyone detests a mocker.
10 If you fail under pressure,
your strength is too small.
11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
save them as they stagger to their death.
12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
13 My child,[b] eat honey, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a bright future,
and your hopes will not be cut short.
15 Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly,
and don’t raid the house where the godly live.
16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
don’t be happy when they stumble.
18 For the Lord will be displeased with you
and will turn his anger away from them.
19 Don’t fret because of evildoers;
don’t envy the wicked.
20 For evil people have no future;
the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 My child, fear the Lord and the king.
Don’t associate with rebels,
22 for disaster will hit them suddenly.
Who knows what punishment will come
from the Lord and the king?
More Sayings of the Wise
23 Here are some further sayings of the wise:
It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;
rich blessings will be showered on them.
26 An honest answer
is like a kiss of friendship.
27 Do your planning and prepare your fields
before building your house.
28 Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause;
don’t lie about them.
29 And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me!
I’ll get even with them!”
30 I walked by the field of a lazy person,
the vineyard of one with no common sense.
31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.
It was covered with weeds,
and its walls were broken down.
32 Then, as I looked and thought about it,
I learned this lesson:
33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
