Proverbs 24
1 Don’t envy evil men aor desire to be with them, b2 for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble. c
3 A house is built by wisdom, d
and it is established by understanding;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with every precious and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise warrior is better than a strong one, ▼
▼LXX, Syr; MT reads one is in strength
and a man of knowledge than one of strength; ▼
▼LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads knowledge exerts strength
,
g 6 for you should wage war with sound guidance –
victory comes with many counselors. h
7 Wisdom is inaccessible to ▼
▼Lit is too high for
a fool; jhe does not open his mouth at the ▼
▼gate(s): The center for community discussions, political meetings, and trying of court cases
gate. l 8 The one who plots evil m
will be called a schemer.
9 A foolish scheme is sin,
and a mocker is detestable to people.
10 If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.
11 Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter. n
12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t He who weighs hearts o consider it?
Won’t He who protects your life p know?
Won’t He repay a person according to his work? q
13 Eat honey, r my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; s
14 realize that wisdom is the same for you. t
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade. u
15 Wicked man, don’t set an ambush,
at the camp of the righteous man; v
don’t destroy his dwelling.
16 Though a righteous man falls seven times,
he will get up, w
but the wicked will stumble into ruin. x
17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, y
18 or the Lord will see, be displeased,
and turn His wrath away from him.
19 Don’t be agitated by evildoers,
and don’t envy the wicked. z
20 For the evil have no future; aa
the lamp of the wicked will be put out. ab
21 My son, ▼
▼fear(s) God or the Lord/ the fear of the Lord: No single English word conveys every aspect of the word fear in this phrase. The meaning includes worshipful submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect to the covenant-keeping God of Israel.
fear the Lord, as well as the king, adand don’t associate with rebels, ▼
▼Or those given to change
22 for destruction from them will come suddenly;
who knows what distress these two can bring?
23 These sayings also belong to the wise: af
It is not good to show partiality in judgment. ag
24 Whoever says to the ▼
▼guilt/guilty: The liability to be punished for a fault, a sin, an act, or an omission unless there is forgiveness or atonement; the term normally concerns an objective fact, not a subjective feeling.
guilty, “You are innocent” ai – people will curse him, aj and tribes will denounce him;
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a generous blessing will come to them.
26 He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; ak
afterward, build your house.
28 Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. al
Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me;
I’ll repay the man for what he has done.” am
30 I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.
31 Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground, an
and the stone wall was ruined.
32 I saw, and took it to heart;
I looked, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
34 and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit. ao
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