Proverbs 24
The wise man warns against envying the wicked and counsels the value of wisdom, strength in adversity, and rescuing those being led to death. The chapter closes with the lesson of the sluggard's vineyard — overgrown and broken down — teaching that poverty comes like an armed man to the one who loves sleep.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. | Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them. |
| 2 | For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. | For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. |
| 3 | Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: | Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. |
| 4 | And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. | And by knowledge the chambers will be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. |
| 5 | A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. | A wise man is strong; indeed, a man of knowledge increases strength. |
| 6 | For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. | For by wise counsel you will wage your war, and in the multitude of counselors there is safety. |
| 7 | Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. | Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the gate. |
| 8 | He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. | He who devises to do evil will be called a mischievous person. |
| 9 | The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. | 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. | If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. |
| 11 | If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; | If you fail to deliver those who are drawn to death, and those who 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? | if you say, "We did not know it," does not he who ponders the heart consider it? And he who keeps your soul, does he not know it? And will he not 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: | My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your 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. | So will the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; when you have found it, there will be a reward, and your expectation will not be cut off. |
| 15 | Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: | Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not plunder his resting place. |
| 16 | For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. | For a just man falls seven times and rises again; but the wicked will fall into mischief. |
| 17 | Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: | 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 it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. | 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: | Do not fret yourself because of evil men, nor be envious of the wicked, |
| 20 | For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. | for there will be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked will be put out. |
| 21 | My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: | My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with those who are given to change, |
| 22 | For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? | for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both? |
| 23 | These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. | These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. |
| 24 | He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: | He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," him the people will curse, and nations will abhor him; |
| 25 | But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. | but to those who rebuke him there will be delight, and a good blessing will come on them. |
| 26 | Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. | Every man will kiss the lips of him who gives a right answer. |
| 27 | Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. | Prepare your work outside, and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterward build your house. |
| 28 | Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. | Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your 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. | Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay 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; | I went by the field of the slothful and by the vineyard of the man without 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. | and it was all grown over with thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone wall was broken down. |
| 32 | Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. | Then I saw and considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction. |
| 33 | Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: | 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. | so your poverty will come like a wanderer, and your need like an armed man. |