Proverbs 24 · Clearspring

Do Not Envy

Saying 20

¹Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:+ ²for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.+

Saying 21

³Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;+ ⁴by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.+

Saying 22

⁵A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;+ ⁶for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.+

Saying 23

⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.+

Saying 24

⁸One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.+ ⁹The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.+

Saying 25

¹⁰If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.+ ¹¹Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!+ ¹²If 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?+

Saying 26

¹³My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:+ ¹⁴so 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.+

Saying 27

¹⁵Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place:+ ¹⁶for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.+

Saying 28

¹⁷Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;+ ¹⁸lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.+

Saying 29

¹⁹Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:+ ²⁰for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.+

Saying 30

²¹My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:+ ²²for their calamity will rise suddenly; the destruction from them both—who knows?+

Further Sayings of the Wise

²³These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.+ ²⁴He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—+ ²⁵but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.+ ²⁶An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.+ ²⁷Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.+ ²⁸Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.+ ²⁹Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”+ ³⁰I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;+ ³¹Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.+ ³²Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:+ ³³a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;+ ³⁴so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.+