Proverbs 24 - Modern English Version

Saying 20

¹ Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,

² for their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of trouble.

Saying 21

³ By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;

⁴ by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Saying 22

⁵ A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases strength,

⁶ for by wise counsel will you wage your war, and in the multitude of counselors there is victory.

Saying 23

⁷ Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; he opens not his mouth in the gate.

Saying 24

⁸ He who plans to do evil will be called a master of schemes.

⁹ The devising of folly is sin, and the mocker is an abomination to men.

Saying 25

¹⁰ If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

¹¹ Deliver those who are drawn away toward death; hold back those stumbling toward slaughter.

¹² If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not He who weighs the heart consider it? Does not He who keeps your soul know it? Will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

Saying 26

¹³ My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste.

¹⁴ So will the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 27

¹⁵ Lay not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; plunder not his resting place,

¹⁶ for a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown in evil.

Saying 28

¹⁷ Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be joyful when he stumbles,

¹⁸ lest the Lord see it, and it is evil in His eyes, and He turn away His wrath from him.

Saying 29

¹⁹ Fret not because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked,

²⁰ for there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Saying 30

²¹ My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not associate with those given to change,

²² for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin those two can bring?

More Sayings of the Wise

²³ These also are sayings of the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.

²⁴ He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” him will the people curse; nations will detest him,

²⁵ but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.

²⁶ He who gives an answer that is right gives a kiss on the lips.

²⁷ Set in order your outside work, make it ready for yourself in the field, and afterwards build your house.

²⁸ Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and deceive not with your lips.

²⁹ Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his deed.”

³⁰ I passed by the field of the sluggard, and went past the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding,

³¹ and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, and nettles had covered its surface, and its stone wall was broken down.

³² Then I saw and considered it well in my heart; I looked on it and received instruction.

³³ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest;

³⁴ so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your want like an armed man.