[[Proverbs 23|<< Proverbs 23]] | [[Proverbs|Proverbs]] | [[Proverbs 25|Proverbs 25 >>]] ### Proverbs 24 1 BE not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. ^1 2 For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. ^2 3 Through wisdom is an house built; and by understanding it is established: ^3 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. ^4 5 A wise man _is_ strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength. ^5 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers _there_ _is_ safety. ^6 7 Wisdom _is_ too high for a fool: he opens not his mouth in the gate. ^7 8 He that devises to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. ^8 9 The thought of foolishness _is_ sin: and the scorner _is_ an abomination to men. ^9 10 _If_ thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength _is_ small. ^10 11 If thou forbear to deliver _them_ _that_ _are_ drawn unto death, and _those_ _that_ _are_ ready to be slain; ^11 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that ponders the heart consider _it?_ and he that keeps thy soul, doth _not_ he know _it?_ and shall _not_ he render to _every_ man according to his works? ^12 13 My son, eat thou honey, because _it_ _is_ good; and the honeycomb, _which_ _is_ sweet to thy taste: ^13 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. ^14 15 Lay not wait, O wicked _man_, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: ^15 16 For a just _man_ falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. ^16 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falls, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbles: ^17 18 Lest the LORD see _it_, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. ^18 19 Fret not thyself because of evil _men_, neither be thou envious at the wicked; ^19 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil _man;_ the candle of the wicked shall be put out. ^20 21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: _and_ meddle not with them that are given to change: ^21 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both? ^22 23 These _things_ also _belong_ to the wise. _It_ _is_ not good to have respect of persons in judgment. ^23 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou _art_ righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: ^24 25 But to them that rebuke _him_ shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. ^25 26 _Every_ _man_ shall kiss _his_ lips that gives a right answer. ^26 27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. ^27 28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive _not_ with thy lips. ^28 29 Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. ^29 30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ^30 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. ^31 32 Then I saw, _and_ considered _it_ well: I looked upon _it_, _and_ received instruction. ^32 33 _Yet_ a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ^33 34 So shall thy poverty come _as_ one that travels; and thy want as an armed man. ^34