Proverbs 24:17-25:15

English Standard Version

^17 (A)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 (B)Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
    and be not ^(C)envious of the wicked,
²⁰ for the evil man has no ^(D)future;
    ^(E)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

²¹ My son, ^(F)fear the Lord and the king,
    and do not join with those who do otherwise,
²² for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
    and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

^(H)Partiality in judging is not good.
²⁴ Whoever ^(I)says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
    ^(J)will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
²⁵ but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
    and a good blessing will come upon them.
²⁶ Whoever gives an honest answer
    kisses the lips.

^27 (K)Prepare your work outside;
    get everything ready for yourself in the field,
    and after that build your house.

^28 (L)Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
    and do not deceive with your lips.
²⁹ Do not say, ^(M)“I will do to him as he has done to me;
    I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

^30 (N)I passed by the field of a sluggard,
    by the vineyard of a man ^(O)lacking sense,
³¹ and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone ^(P)wall was broken down.
³² Then I saw and ^(Q)considered it;
    I looked and received instruction.
^33 (R)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.

² It is the glory of God to ^(T)conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to ^(U)search things out.
³ As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the heart of kings is ^(V)unsearchable.
⁴ Take away ^(W)the dross from the silver,
    and ^(X)the smith has material for a vessel;
⁵ take away ^(Y)the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his ^(Z)throne will be established in righteousness.
⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
⁷ for ^(AA)it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen
^{8     (AB)}do not hastily bring into court,^[a]
for^[b] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbor puts you to shame?
^9 (AC)Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
    and do not reveal another's secret,
¹⁰ lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute have no end.

^11 (AD)A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
¹² Like ^(AE)a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise reprover to ^(AF)a listening ear.
¹³ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    is ^(AG)a faithful messenger to those who send him;
    he refreshes the soul of his masters.
¹⁴ Like ^(AH)clouds and wind without rain
    is a man who ^(AI)boasts of a gift he does not give.

¹⁵ With ^(AJ)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue will break a bone.