Proverbs 24

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Be not emulous of evil men, and desire not to be with them;	1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their hearts plot violence, and their lips speak of foul play.	2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 By wisdom is a house built, by understanding is it made firm;	3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.	4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
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; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 For it is by wise guidance that you wage your war, and the victory is due to a wealth of counselors.	6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.
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: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 He who plots evil doing-- men call him an intriguer.	8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 Beyond intrigue and folly and sin, it is arrogance that men find abominable.	9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If you remain indifferent in time of adversity, your strength will depart from you.	10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being dragged to death, and from those tottering to execution withdraw not.	11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
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 sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every 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 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
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 shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lie not in wait against the home of the just man, ravage not his dwelling place;	15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 For the just man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble to ruin.	16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles, let not your heart exult,	17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the LORD see it, be displeased with you, and withdraw his wrath from your enemy.	18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Be not provoked with evildoers, nor envious of the wicked;	19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 For the evil man has no future, the lamp of the wicked will be put out.	20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle 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 thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 For suddenly arises the destruction they send, and the ruin from either one, who can measure?	22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.	23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He who says to the wicked man, "You are just"-- men will curse him, people will denounce him;	24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 But those who convict the evildoer will fare well, and on them will come the blessing of prosperity.	25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 He gives a kiss on the lips who makes an honest reply.	26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can establish your house.	27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without just cause, thus committing folly with your lips.	28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not 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 so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I passed by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man without sense;	30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And behold! it was all overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall broken down.	31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 And as I gazed at it, I reflected; I saw and learned the lesson:	32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest--	33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 Then will poverty come upon you like a highwayman, and want like an armed man.	34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.