Chapter 24

Be not thou envious¹⁷ against evil men, neither desire¹⁰¹ to be with them.

For their heart studieth⁴ destruction, and their lips talk¹⁷ of mischief.

Through wisdom is an house builded;¹¹ and by understanding it is established:¹¹³

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled¹¹ with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man [is] strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth¹⁸ strength.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make⁴ thy war: and in multitude of counsellors⁶ [there is] safety.

Wisdom [is] too high⁶ for a fool: he openeth⁴ not his mouth in the gate.

He that deviseth¹⁸ to do evil⁵³ shall be called⁴ a mischievous person.

The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner⁵ [is] an abomination to men.

[If] thou faint⁹⁸ in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.

If thou forbear⁴ to deliver⁵⁴ [them that are] drawn⁷ unto death, and [those that are] ready⁵ to be slain;

If thou sayest,⁴ Behold, we knew¹ it not; doth not he that pondereth⁶ the heart consider⁴ [it]? and he that keepeth⁶ thy soul, doth [not] he know⁴ [it]? and shall [not] he render⁵² to [every] man according to his works?

My son, eat³ thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:

So [shall] the knowledge³ of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: when thou hast found¹ [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.¹¹

Lay not wait,⁴ O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil¹⁷ not his resting place:

For a just [man] falleth⁴ seven times, and riseth up¹ again: but the wicked shall fall¹¹ into mischief.

Rejoice⁴ not when thine enemy⁶ falleth,² and let not thine heart be glad⁴ when he stumbleth:⁹

Lest the LORD see⁴ [it], and it displease^{1 5869} him, and he turn away⁵² his wrath from him.

Fret¹⁰¹ not thyself because of evil⁵⁶ [men], neither be thou envious¹⁷ at the wicked;

For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.⁴

My son, fear³ thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle¹⁰¹ not with them that are given to change:⁶

For their calamity shall rise⁴ suddenly; and who knoweth⁶ the ruin of them both?

These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect⁵³ of persons in judgment.

He that saith⁶ unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse,⁴ nations shall abhor⁴ him:

But to them that rebuke⁵⁶ [him] shall be delight,⁴ and a good blessing shall come⁴ upon them.

[Every man] shall kiss⁴ [his] lips that giveth⁵⁶ a right answer.

Prepare⁵⁴ thy work without, and make it fit¹⁶ for thyself in the field; and afterwards build¹ thine house.

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive¹⁴ [not] with thy lips.

Say⁴ not, I will do⁴ so to him as he hath done¹ to me: I will render⁵⁵ to the man according to his work.

I went¹ by the field of the slothful, ⁶¹⁰² and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

And, lo, it was all grown over¹ with thorns, [and] nettles had covered²⁷ the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.⁸

Then I saw,⁴ [and] considered^{4 3820} [it] well: I looked¹ upon [it, and] received¹ instruction.

[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:²

So shall thy poverty come¹ [as] one that travelleth;¹⁰² and thy want as an armed man.