Proverbs 24

Thomson^{(i) 1} My son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them: ² for their hearts study falsehood; and their lips utter mischief. ³ By wisdom a house is built; and by understanding it is established. ⁴ By knowledge chambers are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. ⁵ Better is a wise man than one who is strong: and the man who hath understanding, than he who hath a large cultivated field. ⁶ By government war is conducted! and help is the attendant of a heart instructed by counsel. ⁷ Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not away from the commandment of the Lord: ⁸ but they consult in counsels. ⁹ Death meeteth the uninstructed and a fool dieth by sins. ¹⁰ In a man who is self willed, arrogant and boastful there is impurity: in an evil day and a day of adversity, he will be stained deeper and deeper, until he utterly faint. ¹¹ Deliver them who are to be led away to death; and intercede for them who are to be slain, make no delay. ¹² If thou should say, I do not know this man: know that the Lord knoweth the hearts of all: and that he, who gave breath to all, knoweth all things: and will render to every one according to his works. ¹³ My son, eat honey [for a honey comb is good] that thy palate may be sweetened. ¹⁴ In like manner let thy soul taste wisdom; for if thou find it, thy end will be good and hope will not forsake thee. ¹⁵ Lead not the wicked to the pasture of the righteous; nor be led astray for a belly full. ¹⁶ For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again; but in calamities the wicked shall be without strength. ¹⁷ If thine enemy fall rejoice not over him; nor be elated at his stumbling: ¹⁸ for the Lord will see and it will displease him, and he will turn away his wrath. ¹⁹ Rejoice not over evil doers nor envy sinners. ²⁰ For the posterity of an evil one cannot continue; and the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished. ²¹ My son, fear God and the king and be not disobedient to either of them. ²² For they can suddenly punish the wicked; and their punishments who can know? A son who keepeth the word shall be far from destruction; for he hath received it to effect. Let no falsehood be uttered from the mouth of a king, and from his mouth let no falsehood proceed. The tongue of a king is a sword and not flesh; whoever is delivered up to it shall be destroyed. For if his wrath be sharpened, it consumeth men with thongs, and devoureth the bones of men; or like a flame, burneth them up, so that they cannot be devoured by young eagles. My son, be awed by these words of mine, receive them and reform. ²³ But this I say to you who are wise to know, it is not good to respect a person in judgment. ²⁴ He who saith of the wicked, " He is not guilty, " shall be cursed by the tribes and hateful to the nations: ²⁵ but they who reprove shall appear better; and upon them a blessing shall come. ²⁶ Lips will kiss the things which convey good words. ²⁷ Prepare thy works for the time of going out, and be in complete preparation for the field and come after me; then thou shalt build thyself a house. ²⁸ Be not a false witness against thy fellow citizen, nor give a loose to thy lips. ²⁹ Do not say, "I will use him as he hath used me; and punish him for the injuries he hath done me." ³⁰ A fool is like a field, and a man void of understanding, like a vineyard; ³¹ if thou lettest them alone, they will be overrun with weeds and grass, and become useless, and their stone fences will be thrown down. ³² I have at length repented and looked about, with a view to chuse instruction. ³³ I am dozing a little: just taking a short nap; just infolding my breast with my hands. ³⁴ If such indeed be thy conduct; poverty will come upon thee like a traveller and want like a swift courier.