The Proverbs

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- Chapter 24 -

Be not thou enuious against euill men, neither desire to be with them.

For their heart imagineth destruction, and their lippes speake mischiefe.

The meaning of wisdom

Through wisdome is an house builded, and with vnderstanding it is established.

And by knowledge shall the chambers bee filled with all precious, and pleasant riches.

A wise man is strong: for a man of vnderstanding encreaseth his strength.

For with counsel thou shalt enterprise thy warre, and in the multitude of them that can giue counsell, is health.

Wisdome is hie to a foole: therefore he can not open his mouth in the gate.

Hee that imagineth to doe euill, men shall call him an autour of wickednes.

The wicked thought of a foole is sinne, and the scorner is an abomination vnto men.

If thou bee faint in the day of aduersitie, thy strength is small.

Deliuer them that are drawen to death: wilt thou not preserue them that are led to be slaine?

If thou say, Beholde, we knew not of it: he that pondereth the heartes, doeth not hee vnderstand it? and hee that keepeth thy soule, knoweth he it not? will not he also recompense euery man according to his workes?

Advice to a son

My sonne, eate hony, for it is good, and the hony combe, for it is sweete vnto thy mouth.

So shall the knowledge of wisdome be vnto thy soule, if thou finde it, and there shall be an ende, and thine hope shall not be cut off.

Laye no waite, O wicked man, against the house of the righteous, and spoyle not his resting place.

For a iust man falleth seuen times, and riseth againe: but the wicked fall into mischiefe.

Bee thou not glad when thine enemie falleth, and let not thine heart reioyce when hee stumbleth,

Least the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turne his wrath from him.

Fret not thy selfe because of the malicious, neither be enuious at the wicked.

For there shall bee none ende of plagues to the euill man: the light of the wicked shall bee put out.

My sonne feare the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with them that are sedicious.

For their destruction shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?

The sayings of the wise

ALSO THESE THINGS PERTEINE TO THE WISE, It is not good to haue respect of any person in iudgement.

He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous, him shall the people curse, and the multitude shall abhorre him.

But to them that rebuke him, shall be pleasure, and vpon them shall come the blessing of goodnesse.

They shall kisse the lippes of him that answereth vpright wordes.

Prepare thy worke without, and make readie thy thinges in the fielde, and after, builde thine house.

Be not a witnes against thy neighbour without cause: for wilt thou deceiue with thy lippes?

Say not, I wil doe to him, as he hath done to mee, I will recompence euery man according to his worke.

I passed by the fielde of the slouthfull, and by the vineyarde of the man destitute of vnderstanding.

And lo, it was al growen ouer with thornes, and nettles had couered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken downe.

Then I behelde, and I considered it well: I looked vpon it, and receiued instruction.

Yet a litle sleepe, a litle slumber, a litle folding of the handes to sleepe.

So thy pouertie commeth as one that traueileth by the way, and thy necessitie like an armed man.

Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;

for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.

The meaning of wisdom

Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,

for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.

Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.

The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

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

If 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?

Advice to a son

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

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

Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;

for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,

lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;

for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,

for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?

The sayings of the wise

These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.

He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—

but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.

Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.

Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,

so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.