Proverbs 24

¹Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them

²For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions

³By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened

⁴By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful

⁵A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant

⁶For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels

⁷Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth

⁸Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish

⁹The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men

¹⁰If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished

¹¹Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death

¹²If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works

¹³My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat

¹⁴So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish

¹⁵Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest

¹⁶For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil

¹⁷When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin

¹⁸lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him

¹⁹Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious

²⁰For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished

²¹My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors

²²For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them

²³Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character

²⁴Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them

²⁵Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them

²⁶He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words

²⁷Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house

²⁸Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips

²⁹Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work

³⁰I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man

³¹and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed

³²When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline

³³You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest

³⁴And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.