Proverbs 24

HCSB

Proverbs 24

^{Tools
1}

Don’t envy evil men^(A)
or desire to be with them,^(B)

^{Tools
2}

for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble.^(C)

^{Tools
3}

A house is built by wisdom,^(D)
and it is established by understanding;

^{Tools
4}

by knowledge the rooms are filled
with every precious and beautiful treasure.

^{Tools
5}

A wise warrior is better than a strong one,^(a)
and a man of knowledge than one of strength;^(b)^(E)

^{Tools
6}

for you should wage war with sound guidance—
victory comes with many counselors.^(F)

^{Tools
7}

Wisdom is inaccessible to^(c) a fool;^(G)
he does not open his mouth at the gate.^(H)

^{Tools
8}

The one who plots evil^(I)
will be called a schemer.

^{Tools
9}

A foolish scheme is sin,
and a mocker is detestable to people.

^{Tools
10}

If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.

^{Tools
11}

Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.^(J)

^{Tools
12}

If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t He who weighs hearts^(K) consider it?
Won’t He who protects your life^(L) know?
Won’t He repay a person according to his work?^(M)

^{Tools
13}

Eat honey,^(N) my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;^(O)

^{Tools
14}

realize that wisdom is the same for you.^(P)
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade.^(Q)

^{Tools
15}

Wicked man, don’t set an ambush,
at the camp of the righteous man;^(R)
don’t destroy his dwelling.

^{Tools
16}

Though a righteous man falls seven times,
he will get up,^(S)
but the wicked will stumble into ruin.^(T)

^{Tools
17}

Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,^(U)

^{Tools
18}

or the Lord will see, be displeased,
and turn His wrath away from him.

^{Tools
19}

Don’t be agitated by evildoers,
and don’t envy the wicked.^(V)

^{Tools
20}

For the evil have no future;^(W)
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.^(X)

^{Tools
21}

My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king,^(Y)
and don’t associate with rebels,^(d)

^{Tools
22}

for destruction from them will come suddenly;
who knows what distress these two can bring?

^{Tools
23}

These sayings also belong to the wise:^(Z)

It is not good to show partiality in judgment.^(AA)

^{Tools
24}

Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”^(AB)—
people will curse him,^(AC) and tribes will denounce him;

^{Tools
25}

but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a generous blessing will come to them.

^{Tools
26}

He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.

^{Tools
27}

Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;^(AD)
afterward, build your house.

^{Tools
28}

Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause.^(AE)
Don’t deceive with your lips.

^{Tools
29}

Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me;
I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”^(AF)

^{Tools
30}

I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense.

^{Tools
31}

Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground,^(AG)
and the stone wall was ruined.

^{Tools
32}

I saw, and took it to heart;
I looked, and received instruction:

^{Tools
33}

a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,

^{Tools
34}

and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit.^(AH)

Footnotes:

a. Proverbs 24:5: LXX, Syr; MT reads one is in strength

b. Proverbs 24:5: LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads knowledge exerts strength

c. Proverbs 24:7: Lit is too high for

d. Proverbs 24:21: Or those given to change

Cross references:

A. Proverbs 24:1: Psalm 37:1; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:19

B. Proverbs 24:1: Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 1:15

C. Proverbs 24:2: Psalm 10:7

D. Proverbs 24:3: Proverbs 14:1

E. Proverbs 24:5: Proverbs 21:22

F. Proverbs 24:6: Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 15:22; Proverbs 20:18

G. Proverbs 24:7: Proverbs 14:6; Proverbs 17:16; Proverbs 17:24

H. Proverbs 24:7: Job 5:4; Psalm 127:5

I. Proverbs 24:8: Romans 1:30

J. Proverbs 24:11: Psalm 82:4; Isaiah 58:6-7

K. Proverbs 24:12: Psalm 44:21; Proverbs 21:2

L. Proverbs 24:12: Psalm 121:3-8

M. Proverbs 24:12: Job 34:11; Psalm 62:12

N. Proverbs 24:13: Proverbs 25:16

O. Proverbs 24:13: Song of Solomon 5:1

P. Proverbs 24:14: Psalm 19:10; Psalm 119:103

Q. Proverbs 24:14: Proverbs 10:28; Proverbs 23:18; Jeremiah 29:11

R. Proverbs 24:15: Proverbs 10:9-10

S. Proverbs 24:16: Job 5:19; Psalm 37:24

T. Proverbs 24:16: Proverbs 14:32; Proverbs 29:16

U. Proverbs 24:17: Psalm 35:15; Psalm 35:19; Proverbs 17:5; Obadiah 1:12

V. Proverbs 24:19: Psalm 37:1; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:1

W. Proverbs 24:20: Psalm 37:38; Proverbs 14:11; Proverbs 16:25

X. Proverbs 24:20: Job 18:5; Job 21:17; Proverbs 13:9; Proverbs 20:20

Y. Proverbs 24:21: Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14; 1 Peter 2:17

Z. Proverbs 24:23: Proverbs 1:6; Proverbs 22:17

AA. Proverbs 24:23: Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 18:5; Proverbs 28:21

AB. Proverbs 24:24: Proverbs 17:15

AC. Proverbs 24:24: Proverbs 11:26

AD. Proverbs 24:27: Proverbs 20:4

AE. Proverbs 24:28: Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 25:18

AF. Proverbs 24:29: Deuteronomy 32:35; Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:39; Romans 12:17; Romans 12:19

AG. Proverbs 24:31: Genesis 3:18; Proverbs 20:4

AH. Proverbs 24:34: Proverbs 6:10-11; Proverbs 20:13