Proverbs 24

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Be not emulous of evil men, and desire not to be with them;	1 Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
2 For their hearts plot violence, and their lips speak of foul play.	2 For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
3 By wisdom is a house built, by understanding is it made firm;	3 By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
4 And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.	4 By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
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 well-taught man is robust 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 For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be 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 beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
8 He who plots evil doing-- men call him an intriguer.	8 Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
9 Beyond intrigue and folly and sin, it is arrogance that men find abominable.	9 The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
10 If you remain indifferent in time of adversity, your strength will depart from you.	10 If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
11 Rescue those who are being dragged to death, and from those tottering to execution withdraw not.	11 Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
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 you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay 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 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your 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, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
15 Lie not in wait against the home of the just man, ravage not his dwelling place;	15 Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety 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 the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles, let not your heart exult,	17 When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
18 Lest the LORD see it, be displeased with you, and withdraw his wrath from your enemy.	18 lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
19 Be not provoked with evildoers, nor envious of the wicked;	19 Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
20 For the evil man has no future, the lamp of the wicked will be put out.	20 For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
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, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
22 For suddenly arises the destruction they send, and the ruin from either one, who can measure?	22 For their perdition shall up rise suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.	23 Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
24 He who says to the wicked man, "You are just"-- men will curse him, people will denounce him;	24 Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
25 But those who convict the evildoer will fare well, and on them will come the blessing of prosperity.	25 Those who argue against the impious 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 responds with upright words.
27 Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can establish your house.	27 Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without just cause, thus committing folly with your lips.	28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your 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 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each 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 a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a 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 entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
32 And as I gazed at it, I reflected; I saw and learned the lesson:	32 When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest--	33 You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
34 Then will poverty come upon you like a highwayman, and want like an armed man.	34 And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”