24:1  Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;

24:2  For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble.

24:3  By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;

24:4  And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.

24:5  A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power.

24:6  For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.

24:7  Wisdom is {too} exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate.

24:8  One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer.

24:9  The devising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

24:10  If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited.

24:11  Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold {them} back.

24:12  If you say, "See, we did not know this, Does He not consider {it} who weighs the hearts? And does He not know {it} who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?"

24:13  My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;

24:14  Know {that} wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find {it,} then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.

24:15  Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place;

24:16  For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in {time of} calamity.

24:17  Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;

24:18  Or the LORD will see {it} and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.

24:19  Do not fret because of evildoers Or be envious of the wicked;

24:20  For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

24:21  My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change,

24:22  For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin {that comes} from both of them?

24:23  These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

24:24  He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous, Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;"

24:25  But to those who rebuke the {wicked} will be delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.

24:26  He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.

24:27  Prepare your work outside And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house.

24:28  Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips.

24:29  Do not say, "Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

24:30  I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense,

24:31  And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.

24:32  When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, {and} received instruction.

24:33  "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,"

24:34  Then your poverty will come {as} a robber And your want like an armed man.