24 19. Do not be jealous of evil people. Do not try to be friends with them. 2 They only think about how to cause trouble. They only speak to be cruel.
3 20. It is wisdom that helps a man to build a house. [ a ] The house will have a strong foundation if he understands what is right. 4 Knowledge will help him to fill its rooms with beautiful and valuable things.
5 21. A wise man is better than a brave soldier. If a man learns knowledge, he will become stronger. 6 If you receive good advice before you fight a battle, you will win against your enemy.
7 22. A fool cannot understand wisdom. He has nothing to say when leaders meet.
8 23. If anyone has ideas to do evil things, people will know that he always causes trouble.
9 If you decide to do something foolish, that is a sin. People hate anyone who laughs at others.
10 24. If you stop trying in times of trouble, you are really very weak.
11 25. You should rescue people who are in danger of death. 12 You may say, ‘We did not know what was happening.’ But God knows your thoughts. He carefully watches your life and he knows what you are doing. He will pay back to you whatever you deserve.
13 26. My child, honey is good for you, so eat it. It is sweet on your tongue when you taste it.
14 In the same way, wisdom is also good for you. If you find wisdom, it will help you in life. The things that you hope for in the future will surely happen.
15 27. Do not be like wicked people who attack righteous people. Do not try to rob the homes of honest people. 16 If an honest person falls down seven times, he will still stand up again. But when trouble comes to a wicked person, that is the end of him.
17 28. Do not shout with joy when your enemy falls down. Do not be happy when his foot slips. 18 The Lord will know what you are thinking, and he will not be happy. He may decide not to punish your enemy.
19 29. Do not have trouble in your mind because of evil people. Do not be jealous of them. 20 A wicked person has nothing to hope for in the future. His life will end suddenly.
21 30. My child, respect and obey the Lord , and the king too. Do not be friends with people who turn against them. 22 Both the Lord and the king have the power to give strong punishment. In a moment they can destroy people who turn against them.
23 These are more things that wise people have said:
When you judge people, be fair. It is not good to respect some people more than others. 24 A judge must not say to a guilty person, ‘You are not guilty.’ If he does say that, everyone will curse him. People of all nations will say that he is bad. 25 When judges decide to punish a guilty person, they will be happy, because God will bless them.
26 Somebody who gives you an honest answer is your true friend.
27 Finish your work outside and prepare your fields. After that, you can build your house.
28 If you do not know what is true, do not speak against your neighbour in court. Do not deceive people with what you say. 29 Do not say, ‘I will do to him the same thing that he did to me. I will punish him because of what he did.’
30 I walked past the field of a lazy person. And I walked past the vineyard of a stupid person. 31 There were weeds and thorn bushes over all the ground. The wall of stones round the field had fallen down. 32 I looked at this and I thought about it carefully. I learned a lesson from the things that I had seen:
33 You may say, ‘I will have a short sleep. I will rest quietly for a while.’ 34 But while you sleep you will suddenly become poor. You will have nothing, as if someone has robbed you.
24 Don’t be jealous of evil people. Have no desire to be around them. 2 In their hearts they plan to do evil. All they talk about is making trouble.
3 Good homes are built on wisdom and understanding. 4 Knowledge fills the rooms with rare and beautiful treasures.
5 Wisdom makes a man more powerful. Knowledge gives a man strength. 6 Get good advice before you start a war. To win, you must have many good advisors.
7 Fools cannot understand wisdom. They have nothing to say when people are discussing important things.
8 If you start planning ways to do wrong, people will learn that you are a troublemaker. 9 Such foolish plans are wrong, and people have no respect for someone who laughs at what is right.
10 If you are weak in times of trouble, that is real weakness.
11 If you see someone on their way to death or in danger of being killed, you must do something to save them. 12 You cannot say, “It’s none of my business.” The Lord knows everything, and he knows why you do things. He watches you, and he will pay you back for what you do.
13 My son, eat honey; it is good. Honey straight from the honeycomb is the sweetest. 14 In the same way, know that wisdom is good for you. Wisdom will give you something to hope for that will not disappoint you.
15 Don’t be like a criminal who makes plans to rob those who are good or take away their homes. 16 Good people might fall again and again, but they always get up. It is the wicked who are defeated by their troubles.
17 Don’t be happy when your enemy has troubles. Don’t be glad when they fall. 18 The Lord will see this, and he might be upset with you and decide not to punish your enemy.
19 Don’t let those who are evil upset you, and don’t be jealous of them. 20 They have no hope. Their light will burn out.
21 Son, respect the Lord and the king, and don’t join with those who are against them, 22 because people like that can quickly be destroyed. You have no idea how much trouble God and the king can make for their enemies.
23 These are also words from the wise:
A judge must be fair. He must not support some people simply because he knows them. 24 The people will turn against a judge who lets the guilty go free. Even the people of other nations will curse him. 25 But if a judge punishes the guilty, then people will be happy with him, and he will be a blessing to them.
26 An honest answer is as pleasing as a kiss on the lips.
27 First get your fields ready, next plant your crops, and then build your house.
28 Don’t speak against someone without a good reason, or you will appear foolish.
29 Don’t say, “You hurt me, so I will do the same to you. I will punish you for what you did to me.”
30 I walked past a field that belonged to a lazy man. It was a vineyard that belonged to someone who understood nothing. 31 Weeds were growing everywhere! Wild vines covered the ground, and the wall around the vineyard was broken and falling down. 32 I looked at this and thought about it. This is what I learned: 33 a little sleep, a little rest, folding your arms, and taking a nap— 34 these things will make you poor very quickly. Soon you will have nothing, as if a thief broke in and took everything away.
24 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
24 Do not be ( A ) envious of evil people,
Nor desire to ( B ) be with them;
2 For their [ a ] minds plot ( C ) violence,
And their lips ( D ) talk of trouble.
3 ( E ) By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge the rooms are ( F ) filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A ( G ) wise man is [ b ] strong,
And a person of knowledge [ c ] increases power.
6 For ( H ) by wise guidance you will [ d ] wage war,
And ( I ) in an abundance of counselors there is victory.
8 One who ( L ) plans to do evil,
People will call a [ e ] schemer.
9 The ( M ) devising of foolishness is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to humanity.
10 If you ( N ) show yourself lacking courage on the day of distress,
Your strength is meager.
11 ( O ) Rescue those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to the slaughter, Oh hold them back!
12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He ( P ) who weighs the hearts not ( Q ) consider it ?
And ( R ) does He who ( S ) watches over your soul not know it ?
And will He not [ f ] ( T ) repay a person according to his work?
13 My son, eat ( U ) honey, for it is good;
Yes, the ( V ) honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;
14 Know that ( W ) wisdom is the same for your soul;
If you find it , then there will be a [ g ] ( X ) future,
And your hope will not be cut off.
15 ( Y ) Do not lie in ambush, you wicked person, against the home of the righteous;
Do not destroy his resting place;
16 For a ( Z ) righteous person falls seven times and rises again,
But the ( AA ) wicked stumble in time of disaster.
17 ( AB ) Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 Otherwise, the Lord will see and [ h ] be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him.
19 ( AC ) Do not get upset because of evildoers
Or be ( AD ) envious of the wicked;
20 For ( AE ) there will be no [ i ] ( AF ) future for the evil person;
The ( AG ) lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, [ j ] ( AH ) fear the Lord and the king;
Do not get involved with those [ k ] of high rank,
22 For their ( AI ) disaster will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that can come from both of them?
23 These also are ( AJ ) sayings of the wise:
To [ l ] ( AK ) show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 One ( AL ) who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
( AM ) Peoples will curse him, nations will scold him;
25 But ( AN ) for those who rebuke the wicked there will be delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 One who gives [ m ] a right answer
Kisses the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside,
And ( AO ) make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterward, then, build your house.
28 Do not be a ( AP ) witness against your neighbor for no reason,
And ( AQ ) do not deceive with your lips.
29 ( AR ) Do not say, “I shall do the same to him as he has done to me;
I will [ n ] repay the person according to his work.”
30 I passed by the field of [ o ] a lazy one,
And by the vineyard of a person ( AS ) lacking [ p ] sense,
31 And behold, it was completely ( AT ) overgrown with weeds;
Its surface was covered with ( AU ) weeds,
And its stone ( AV ) wall was broken down.
32 When I saw, I [ q ] reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.
33 “ ( AW ) A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,”
34 Then your poverty will come like [ r ] a drifter,
And your need like [ s ] an armed man.
24 Do not envy ( A ) the wicked,
do not desire their company;
2 for their hearts plot violence, ( B )
and their lips talk about making trouble. ( C )
3 By wisdom a house is built, ( D )
and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures. ( E )
5 The wise prevail through great power,
and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
6 Surely you need guidance to wage war,
and victory is won through many advisers. ( F )
7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
8 Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.
10 If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength! ( G )
11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter. ( H )
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs ( I ) the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay ( J ) everyone according to what they have done? ( K )
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off. ( L )
15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. ( M )
17 Do not gloat ( N ) when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, ( O )
18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them. ( P )
19 Do not fret ( Q ) because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. ( R )
21 Fear the Lord and the king, ( S ) my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction ( T ) on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: ( U )
To show partiality ( V ) in judging is not good: ( W )
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” ( X )
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause ( Y ) —
would you use your lips to mislead?
29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.” ( Z )
30 I went past the field of a sluggard, ( AA )
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to 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 rest ( AB ) —
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man. ( AC )
