Sprüche 24 | 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.

Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised), NIV TM Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

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.

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide. “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.