Proverbs 24 — AAB

Do Not Envy

Saying 20

24Verse 1Do not envy wicked menor desire their company;^{Verse 2}for their hearts devise violence,and their lips declare trouble.

Saying 21

^{Verse 3}By wisdom a house is builtand by understanding it is established;^{Verse 4}through knowledge its rooms are filledwith every precious and beautiful treasure.

Saying 22

^{Verse 5}A wise man is strong,⁺and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.^{Verse 6}Only with sound guidance should you wage war,and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

Saying 23

^{Verse 7}Wisdom is too high for a fool;he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.

Saying 24

^{Verse 8}He who plots evilwill be called a schemer.^{Verse 9}A foolish scheme is sin,and a mocker is detestable to men.

Saying 25

^{Verse 10}If you faint in the day of distress,how small is your strength!^{Verse 11}Rescue those being led away to death,and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.^{Verse 12}If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,”does not He who weighs hearts consider it?Does not the One who guards your life know?Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Saying 26

^{Verse 13}Eat honey, my son, for it is good,and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.^{Verse 14}Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul.If you find it, there is a future for you,
and your hope will never be cut off.

Saying 27

^{Verse 15}Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous;do not destroy his resting place.^{Verse 16}For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up;but the wicked stumble in bad times.

Saying 28

^{Verse 17}Do not gloat when your enemy falls,and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,^{Verse 18}or the LORD will see and disapprove,and turn His wrath away from him.

Saying 29

^{Verse 19}Do not fret over evildoers,and do not be envious of the wicked.^{Verse 20}For the evil man has no future;the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Saying 30

^{Verse 21}My son, fear the LORD and the king,and do not associate with the rebellious.^{Verse 22}For they will bring sudden destruction.Who knows what ruin they can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

^{Verse 23}These also are sayings of the wise:To show partiality in judgmentis not good.^{Verse 24}Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;^{Verse 25}but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,and rich blessing will come upon them.^{Verse 26}An honest answer givenis like a kiss on the lips.^{Verse 27}Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field;after that, you may build your house.^{Verse 28}Do not testify against your neighbor without cause,and do not deceive with your lips.^{Verse 29}Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;I will repay the man according to his work.”^{Verse 30}I went past the field of a slackerand by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.^{Verse 31}Thorns had grown up everywhere,thistles had covered the ground,
and the stone wall was broken down.^{Verse 32}I observed and took it to heart;I looked and received instruction:^{Verse 33}A little sleep, a little slumber,a little folding of the hands to rest,^{Verse 34}and poverty will come upon you like a robber,and need like a bandit.