Proverbs 24
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
World English Bible
1Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.
1Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
2for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established;
3Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
4by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
5A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6For with wise advice thou shalt make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
6for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7Wisdom is as unattainable to a fool as corals; he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
8One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.
9The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small indeed.
10If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11Deliver them that are drawn unto death; and those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?
11Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12If thou sayest: 'Behold, we knew not this', doth not He that weigheth the hearts consider it? And He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his works?
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 give to every man according to his work?
13My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to thy taste;
13My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
14So know thou wisdom to be unto thy soul; if thou hast found it, then shall there be a future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
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.
15Lie not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting-place;
15Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity.
16for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
17Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.
18lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20For there will be no future to the evil man, the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
20for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change;
21My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin from them both?
22for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24He that saith unto the wicked: 'Thou art righteous', peoples shall curse him, nations shall execrate him;
24He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25But to them that decide justly shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
27Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29Say not: 'I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.'
29Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
30I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
31And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
31Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.
32Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep' —
33a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
34so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
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