The Proverbs (WEB)

24: 1Don't you be envious against evil men;
      Neither desire to be with them:

 ^24:2For their hearts plot violence,
      And their lips talk about mischief.

 ^24:3Through wisdom a house is built;
      By understanding it is established;

 ^24:4By knowledge the rooms are filled
      With all rare and beautiful treasure.

 ^24:5A wise man has great power;
      And a knowledgeable man increases strength;

  ^24:6For by wise guidance you wage your war;
      And victory is in many advisors.

 ^24:7Wisdom is too high for a fool:
      He doesn't open his mouth in the gate.

 ^24:8One who plots to do evil
      Will be called a schemer.

 ^24:9The schemes of folly are sin.
      The mocker is detested by men.

 ^24:10If you falter in the time of trouble,
      Your strength is small.

 ^24:11Rescue those who are being led away to death!
      Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

 ^24:12If you say, "Behold, we didn't know this;"
      Doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it?

 He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it?
      Shall he not render to every man according to his work?

 ^24:13My son, eat honey, for it is good;
      The droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:

 ^24:14So you shall know wisdom to be to your soul;
      If you have found it, then will there be a reward,
      Your hope will not be cut off.

 ^24:15Don't lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous.
      Don't destroy his resting-place:

 ^24:16For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again;
      But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

 ^24:17Don't rejoice when your enemy falls.
      Don't let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;

 ^24:18Lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him,
      And he turn away his wrath from him.

 ^24:19Don't fret yourself because of evildoers;
      Neither be envious of the wicked:

 ^24:20For there will be no reward to the evil man;
      And the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.

 ^24:21My son, fear Yahweh and the king.
      Don't join those who are rebellious:

 ^24:22For their calamity will rise suddenly;
      The destruction from them both -- who knows?

 ^24:23These also are sayings of the wise.

 To show partiality in judgment is not good.

 ^24:24He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;"
      Peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him --

 ^24:25But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
      And a rich blessing will come on them.

 ^24:26An honest answer
      Is like a kiss on the lips.

 ^24:27Prepare your work outside.
      Make it ready for you in the field.
      Afterwards, build your house.

 ^24:28Don't be a witness against your neighbor without cause.
      Don't deceive with your lips.

 ^24:29Don't say, "I will do to him as he has done to me;
      I will render to the man according to his work."

 ^24:30I went by the field of the sluggard,
      By the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

 ^24:31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.
      Its surface was covered with nettles,
      And its stone wall was broken down.

 ^24:32Then I saw, and considered well.
      I saw, and received instruction:

 ^24:33A little sleep, a little slumber,
      A little folding of the hands to sleep;

 ^24:34So shall your poverty come as a robber,
      And your want as an armed man.

World English Bible