Proverbs 24

Words of the Wise

1 Be not u envious of evil men,
nor desire to be v with them,
 2 for their hearts w devise violence,
and their lips x talk of trouble.

3 By y wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
 4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all z precious and pleasant riches.
 5 a A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
 6 for by b wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in c abundance of counselors there is victory.
 7 Wisdom is d too high for a fool;
in e the gate he does not open his mouth.

8 Whoever f plans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
 9 g The devising 1 of folly is sin,
and h the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

10 If you i faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
 11 j Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
 12 If you say, "Behold, we did not know this,"
k does not he who l weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who m keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man n according to his work?

13 My son, o eat honey, for it is good,
and p the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
 14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be q a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15 r Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do no violence to his home;
 16 s for the righteous falls t seven times and rises again,
but u the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

17 v Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
 18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.

19 w Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not x envious of the wicked,
 20 for the evil man has no q future;
y the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, z fear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
 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 a the wise.
b Partiality in judging is not good.
 24 Whoever c says to the wicked, "You are in the right,"
d will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
 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 e Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.

28 f Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
 29 Do not say, g "I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done."

30 h I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man i lacking sense,
 31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone j wall was broken down.
 32 Then I saw and k considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
 33 l A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
 34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

  1. Cross References
    Proverbs 24:19
    Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked.
    Psalms 37:1
    Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
  2. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:15
    My son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths.
  3. Cross References
    Isaiah 59:13
    Transgressing, and denying the Lord, and turning back from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 10:7
    His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
  5. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:1
    The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
  6. Cross References
    Proverbs 23:23
    Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
    Luke 16:11
    If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:22
    A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
  8. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:18
    Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
  9. Cross References
    Proverbs 11:14
    Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
  10. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:6
    A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
  11. Cross References
    Job 5:4
    His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
  12. Cross References
    Romans 1:30
    Slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents.
  13. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:27
    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 1:1
    Book One Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.
  15. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:3
    Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
  16. Cross References
    Psalms 82:4
    Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
    Isaiah 58:6 - 7
    Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
  17. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 5:8
    If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.
  18. Cross References
    Proverbs 16:2
    All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
    1 Samuel 16:7
    But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 91:11
    For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
  20. Cross References
    Job 34:11
    For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
  21. Cross References
    Psalms 19:10
    More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
    Psalms 119:103
    How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
    Song of Solomon 5:1
    I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!
    Isaiah 7:15
    He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
  22. Cross References
    Song of Solomon 4:11
    Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
  23. Cross References
    Proverbs 23:18
    Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
  24. Cross References
    Psalms 10:9 - 10
    He lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
  25. Cross References
    Psalms 37:24
    Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
  26. Cross References
    Job 5:19
    He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.
  27. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:32
    The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
  28. Cross References
    Psalms 35:15
    But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing.
    Psalms 35:19
    Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.
    Micah 7:8
    Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
    Proverbs 17:5
    Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
  29. Cross References
    Jeremiah 12:1
    Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
    Psalms 37:1
    Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
  30. Cross References
    Proverbs 24:1
    Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them.
  31. Cross References
    Proverbs 24:14
    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.
  32. Cross References
    Proverbs 13:9
    The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
    Job 18:5
    Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine.
  33. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:17
    Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
    Romans 13:7
    Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
  34. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:6
    To understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
    Proverbs 22:17
    Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.
  35. Cross References
    Proverbs 18:5
    It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
  36. Cross References
    Proverbs 17:15
    He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
  37. Cross References
    Proverbs 11:26
    The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
  38. Cross References
    Luke 14:28
    For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
  39. Cross References
    Proverbs 25:18
    A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
  40. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:22
    Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
  41. Cross References
    Job 5:3
    I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.
  42. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:32
    He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
  43. Cross References
    Isaiah 5:5
    And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
  44. Cross References
    Proverbs 22:17
    Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.
  45. Cross References
    Proverbs 24:33 - 34
    A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.
    Proverbs 6:10 - 11
    A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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