Proverbs 24:3-22

New King James Version

³ Through 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)A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
^6 (B)For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

^7 (C)Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.

⁸ He who ^(D)plots to do evil
Will be called a ^[a]schemer.
⁹ The devising of foolishness is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

¹⁰ If you ^(E)faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength is small.

^11 (F)Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
¹² If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
Does not ^(G)He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man ^(H)according to his deeds?

¹³ My son, ^(I)eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
^14 (J)So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
If you have found it, there is a ^[b]prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵ Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not plunder his resting place;
^16 (K)For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
^(L)But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

^17 (M)Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
¹⁸ Lest the Lord see it, and ^[c]it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him.

^19 (N)Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the wicked;
²⁰ For there will be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

²¹ My son, ^(O)fear the Lord and the king;
Do not associate with those given to change;
²² For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin those two can bring?