Proverbs 24 — NETB

24Verse 1Do not envy evil people,
do not desire to be with them;
^{Verse 2}for their hearts contemplate violence,
and their lips speak harm.
^{Verse 3}By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
^{Verse 4}by knowledge its rooms are filled
with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures.
^{Verse 5}A wise warrior is strong,
and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;
^{Verse 6}for with guidance you wage your war,
and with numerous advisers there is victory.
^{Verse 7}Wisdom is unattainable for a fool;
in court he does not open his mouth.
^{Verse 8}The one who plans to do evil
will be called a scheming person.
^{Verse 9}A foolish scheme is sin,
and the scorner is an abomination to people.
^{Verse 10}If you faint in the day of trouble,
your strength is small!
^{Verse 11}Deliver those being taken away to death,
and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.
^{Verse 12}If you say, “But we did not know about this,”
does not the one who evaluates hearts consider?
Does not the one who guards your life know?
Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?
^{Verse 13}Eat honey, my child, for it is good,
and honey from the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
^{Verse 14}Likewise, know that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
if you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
^{Verse 15}Do not lie in wait like the wicked against the place where the righteous live;
do not assault his home.
^{Verse 16}Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again,
but the wicked will be brought down by calamity.
^{Verse 17}Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,
^{Verse 18}lest the Lord see it, and be displeased,
and turn his wrath away from him.
^{Verse 19}Do not fret because of evil people
or be envious of wicked people,
^{Verse 20}for the evil person has no future,
and the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
^{Verse 21}Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king,
and do not associate with rebels,
^{Verse 22}for suddenly their destruction will overtake them,
and who knows the ruinous judgment both the Lord and the king can bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

^{Verse 23}These sayings also are from the wise:
To show partiality in judgment is terrible:
^{Verse 24}The one who says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”
peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him.
^{Verse 25}But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty,
and a pleasing blessing will come on them.
^{Verse 26}Like a kiss on the lips
is the one who gives an honest answer.
^{Verse 27}Establish your work outside and get your fields ready;
afterward build your house.
^{Verse 28}Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your words.
^{Verse 29}Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me;
I will pay him back according to what he has done.”
^{Verse 30}I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom.
^{Verse 31}I saw that thorns had grown up all over it,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and its stone wall was broken down.
^{Verse 32}When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it;
I received instruction from what I saw:
^{Verse 33}“A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to relax,
^{Verse 34}and your poverty will come like a bandit,
and your need like an armed robber.”