Proverbs 24 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

Saying 20

1 Do not want what evil people have. Don’t long to be with them. 2 In their hearts they plan to hurt others. With their lips they talk about making trouble.

Saying 21

3 By wisdom a house is built. Through understanding it is made secure. 4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with priceless and beautiful things.

Saying 22

5 Wise people have success by means of great power. Those who have knowledge gather strength. 6 If you go to war, you surely need guidance. If you want to win, you need many good advisers. 7 Wisdom is too high for foolish people. They shouldn’t speak when people meet at the city gate to conduct business.

Saying 23 Saying 24

8 Anyone who thinks up sinful things to do will be known as one who plans evil. 9 Foolish plans are sinful. People hate those who make fun of others.

Saying 25

10 If you grow weak when trouble comes, your strength is very small! 11 Save those who are being led away to death. Hold back those who are about to be killed. 12 Don’t say, ‘But we didn’t know anything about this.’ Doesn’t the God who knows what you are thinking see it? Doesn’t the God who guards your life know it? He will pay back everyone for what they have done.

Saying 26

13 Eat honey, my son, because it is good. Honey from a honeycomb has a sweet taste. 14 I want you to know that wisdom is like honey for you. If you find it, there is hope for you tomorrow. So your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 27

15 Don’t hide and wait like a burglar near a godly person’s house. Don’t rob their home. 16 Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up. But those who are evil trip and fall when trouble comes.

Saying 28

17 Don’t be happy when your enemy falls. When he trips, don’t let your heart be glad. 18 The LORD will see it, but he won’t be pleased. He might turn his anger away from your enemy.

Saying 29

19 Don’t be upset because of evil people. Don’t long for what sinners have. 20 Tomorrow evil people won’t have any hope. The lamps of sinners will be blown out.

Saying 30

21 My son, have respect for the LORD and the king. Don’t join with officials who disobey them. 22 The LORD and the king will suddenly destroy them. Who knows what trouble those two can bring? 23 Here are more sayings of wise people. Taking sides in court is not good. 24 A curse will fall on those who say the guilty are not guilty. Nations will ask for bad things to happen to them. People will speak against them. 25 But it will go well with those who sentence guilty people. Rich blessings will come to them. 26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. 27 Put your outdoor work in order. Get your fields ready. After that, build your house. 28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbour for no reason. Would you use your lips to tell lies? 29 Don’t say, ‘I’ll do to them what they have done to me. I’ll get even with them for what they did.’ 30 I went past the field of someone who didn’t want to work. I went past the vineyard of someone who didn’t have any sense. 31 Thorns had grown up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds. The stone wall had fallen down. 32 I applied my heart to what I observed. I learned a lesson from what I saw. 33 You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest. 34 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.

English Standard Version

1 Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, (Ps 37:1; Pr 1:15; Pr 24:19) 2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. (Ps 10:7; Isa 59:13) 3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; (Pr 14:1) 4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. (Pr 23:23; Lu 16:11) 5 A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, (Pr 21:22) 6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. (Pr 11:14; Pr 20:18) 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth. (Job 5:4; Pr 14:6) 8 Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. (Ro 1:30) 9 The devising^[1] of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. (Ps 1:1; Pr 21:27) 10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. (Heb 12:3) 11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. (Ps 82:4; Isa 58:6) 12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (1Sa 16:7; Job 34:11; Ps 91:11; Pr 16:2; Ec 5:8)

1Sa 16:7Job 34:11Ps 91:11Pr 16:2Ec 5:8

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. (Ps 19:10; Ps 119:103; So 4:11; So 5:1; Isa 7:15)

Ps 19:10Ps 119:103So 4:11So 5:1Isa 7:15

14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. (Pr 23:18) 15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; (Ps 10:9) 16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. (Job 5:19; Ps 37:24; Pr 14:32) 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, (Ps 35:15; Ps 35:19; Pr 17:5; Mic 7:8)

Ps 35:15Ps 35:19Pr 17:5Mic 7:8

18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. 19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, (Ps 37:1; Pr 24:1; Jer 12:1) 20 for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. (Job 18:5; Pr 13:9; Pr 24:14) 21 My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, (Ro 13:7; 1Pe 2:17) 22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

More Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good. (Pr 1:6; Pr 18:5; Pr 22:17) 24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, (Pr 11:26; Pr 17:15) 25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. 26 Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips. 27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. (Lu 14:28) 28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. (Pr 25:18) 29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” (Pr 20:22) 30 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, (Job 5:3; Pr 6:32) 31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. (Isa 5:5) 32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. (Pr 22:17) 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, (Pr 6:10) 34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.