Proverbs 24 | New International Version

New International Version

Saying 20

1 Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; 2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.

Saying 21

3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; 4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Saying 22

5 The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. 6 Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisors. 7 Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

Saying 23 Saying 24

8 Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer. 9 The schemes of folly are sin, and people detest a mocker.

Saying 25

10 If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! 11 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter. 12 If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Saying 26

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. 14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 27

15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling-place; 16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

Saying 28

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, 18 or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

Saying 29

19 Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, 20 for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Saying 30

21 Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials, 22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring? 23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good: 24 whoever says to the guilty, ‘You are innocent,’ will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. 25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them. 26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. 27 Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. 28 Do not testify against your neighbour without cause – would you use your lips to mislead? 29 Do not say, ‘I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.’ 30 I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; 31 thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. 32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: 33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – 34 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

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.