1 My Son, Fear Yahweh Do not be jealous of evil men,And do not desire to be with them;
2 For their heart meditates on destruction,And their lips talk of mischief.
3 ¶By wisdom a house is built,And by discernment it is firmly established;
4 And by knowledge the rooms are filledWith all precious and pleasant riches.
5 ¶A wise man is 24:5Lit in strength strong,And a man of knowledge strengthens his power.
6 For by guidance you will make war,And in abundance of counselors there is salvation.
7 ¶Wisdom istooexalted for an ignorant fool,He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8 ¶One who deliberately thinks to do evil,Men will call a 24:8Or deviser of evil schemer.
9 The scheming of folly is sin,And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 ¶If you are slack in the day of trouble,Your strength is in trouble.
11 ¶Deliver those who are being taken away to death,And those who are stumbling to the slaughter, Oh holdthemback.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”Does not He who weighs the hearts understand?Anddoes notHe who guards your soul know?And will not He 24:12Lit bring back render to man according to his work?
13 ¶Eat honey, my son, for it is good,Indeed, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;
14 Knowthatwisdom is thus for your soul;If you findit, then there will be a 24:14Lit latter end future,And your hope will not be cut off.
15 ¶Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the abode of the righteous;Do not destroy his resting place;
16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,But the wicked will stumble in 24:16Lit evil calamity.
17 ¶When your enemy falls, do not be glad,And when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice;
18 Lest Yahweh seeitand it be evil in His eyes,And turn His anger away from him.
19 ¶Do not fret because of evildoersDo not be jealous of the wicked;
20 For there will be no 24:20Lit latter end future for the evil one;The lamp of the wicked will go out.
21 ¶My son, 24:21 Or reverence fear Yahweh and the king;Do not associate with those who change,
22 For suddenly their disaster will rise,And who knows the upheavalthat comesfrom both of them?
23 ¶These also aresayingsof the wise.To 24:23Lit recognize a face show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”Peoples will curse him, nations will be indignant with him;
25 But to those who reprove thewicked, it will be pleasant,And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 He kisses the lipsWho responds with right words.
27 ¶Establish your work outsideAnd make it ready for yourself in the field;And afterwards, you shall build your house.
28 ¶Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,Nor deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “As he did to me so I shall do to him;I will 24:29Lit bring back render to the man according to his work.”
30 ¶I passed by the field of the sluggardAnd by the vineyard of the man lacking a heartof wisdom,
31 And behold, it was completely 24:31 Lit gone up overgrown with thistles; 24:31 A kind of weed Nettles have covered its surface,And its stone wall has been torn down.
32 And I beheld, I set my heart upon it;I saw, I received discipline.
33 “A little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to rest,”
34 Then your poverty will comeas 24:34Or a vagabond; lit one who walks a robberAnd your want like 24:34Lit a man with a shield an armed man.