Proverbs 24

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Be not emulous of evil men, and desire not to be with them;	1 Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
2 For their hearts plot violence, and their lips speak of foul play.	2 Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
3 By wisdom is a house built, by understanding is it made firm;	3 By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
4 And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.	4 By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
5 A wise man is more powerful than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than a man of might;	5 A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
6 For it is by wise guidance that you wage your war, and the victory is due to a wealth of counselors.	6 Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
7 For a fool, to be silent is wisdom; not to open his mouth at the gate.	7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
8 He who plots evil doing-- men call him an intriguer.	8 He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
9 Beyond intrigue and folly and sin, it is arrogance that men find abominable.	9 The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
10 If you remain indifferent in time of adversity, your strength will depart from you.	10 If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
11 Rescue those who are being dragged to death, and from those tottering to execution withdraw not.	11 Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
12 If you say, "I know not this man!" does not he who tests hearts perceive it? He who guards your life knows it, and he will repay each one according to his deeds.	12 If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, end he shall render to a man according to his works.
13 If you eat honey, my son, because it is good, if virgin honey is sweet to your taste;	13 Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
14 Such, you must know, is wisdom to your soul. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will not be cut off.	14 So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
15 Lie not in wait against the home of the just man, ravage not his dwelling place;	15 Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 For the just man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble to ruin.	16 For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles, let not your heart exult,	17 When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
18 Lest the LORD see it, be displeased with you, and withdraw his wrath from your enemy.	18 Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Be not provoked with evildoers, nor envious of the wicked;	19 Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
20 For the evil man has no future, the lamp of the wicked will be put out.	20 For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; have nothing to do with those who rebel against them;	21 My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
22 For suddenly arises the destruction they send, and the ruin from either one, who can measure?	22 For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.	23 These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
24 He who says to the wicked man, "You are just"-- men will curse him, people will denounce him;	24 They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
25 But those who convict the evildoer will fare well, and on them will come the blessing of prosperity.	25 They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 He gives a kiss on the lips who makes an honest reply.	26 He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
27 Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can establish your house.	27 Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without just cause, thus committing folly with your lips.	28 Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
29 Say not, "As he did to me, so will I do to him; I will repay the man according to his deeds."	29 Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
30 I passed by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man without sense;	30 I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
31 And behold! it was all overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall broken down.	31 And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 And as I gazed at it, I reflected; I saw and learned the lesson:	32 Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest--	33 Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
34 Then will poverty come upon you like a highwayman, and want like an armed man.	34 And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.