Proverbs 24

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Do not be envious of the wicked or wish for their company,	1 Be not emulous of evil men, and desire not to be with them;
2 for their hearts are scheming violence, their lips talking mischief.	2 For their hearts plot violence, and their lips speak of foul play.
3 By wisdom a house is built, by understanding it is made strong;	3 By wisdom is a house built, by understanding is it made firm;
4 by knowledge its storerooms are fil ed with riches of every kind, rare and desirable.	4 And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.
5 The wise is mighty in power, strength is reinforced by science;	5 A wise man is more powerful than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than a man of might;
6 for it is by strategy that you wage war, and victory depends on having many counsellors.	6 For it is by wise guidance that you wage your war, and the victory is due to a wealth of counselors.
7 For a fool wisdom is an inaccessible fortress: at the city gate he does not open his mouth.	7 For a fool, to be silent is wisdom; not to open his mouth at the gate.
8 Anyone intent on evil-doing is known as a master in cunning.	8 He who plots evil doing-- men call him an intriguer.
9 Folly dreams of nothing but sin, the mocker is abhorrent.	9 Beyond intrigue and folly and sin, it is arrogance that men find abominable.
10 If you lose heart when things go wrong, your strength is not worth much.	10 If you remain indifferent in time of adversity, your strength will depart from you.
11 Save those being dragged towards death, but can you rescue those on their way to execution?	11 Rescue those who are being dragged to death, and from those tottering to execution withdraw not.
12 If you say, 'But look, we did not know,' wil the Weigher of the heart pay no attention? Wil not theGuardian of your soul be aware and repay you as your deeds deserve?	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.
13 Eat honey, my child, since it is good; honey that drips from the comb is sweet to the taste:	13 If you eat honey, my son, because it is good, if virgin honey is sweet to your taste;
14 and so, for sure, wil wisdom be to your soul: find it and you will have a future and your hope wil notbe cut short.	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.
15 Do not lurk, wicked man, round the upright man's dwel ing, do not despoil his house.	15 Lie not in wait against the home of the just man, ravage not his dwelling place;
16 For though the upright fal s seven times, he gets up again; the wicked are the ones who stumble inadversity.	16 For the just man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble to ruin.
17 Should your enemy fal , do not rejoice, when he stumbles do not let your heart exult:	17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles, let not your heart exult,
18 for fear that Yahweh wil be displeased at the sight and turn his anger away from him.	18 Lest the LORD see it, be displeased with you, and withdraw his wrath from your enemy.
19 Do not be indignant about the wicked, do not be envious of the evil,	19 Be not provoked with evildoers, nor envious of the wicked;
20 for there is no future for the evil, the lamp of the wicked wil go out.	20 For the evil man has no future, the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 Fear Yahweh, my child, and fear the king; do not al y yourself with innovators;	21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; have nothing to do with those who rebel against them;
22 for suddenly disaster wil loom for them, and who knows what ruin wil seize them and their friends?	22 For suddenly arises the destruction they send, and the ruin from either one, who can measure?
23 The fol owing are also taken from the sages: To show partiality in judgement is not good.	23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Whoever tells the wicked, 'You are upright,' peoples curse him, nations revile him;	24 He who says to the wicked man, "You are just"-- men will curse him, people will denounce him;
25 but those who correct him, come out of it wel , on them will come a happy blessing.	25 But those who convict the evildoer will fare well, and on them will come the blessing of prosperity.
26 Whoever returns an honest answer, plants a kiss on the lips.	26 He gives a kiss on the lips who makes an honest reply.
27 Plan what you want on the open ground, make your preparation in the field; then go and build yourhouse.	27 Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can establish your house.
28 Do not bear witness lightly against your neighbour, nor deceive with your lips.	28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without just cause, thus committing folly with your lips.
29 Do not say, 'I wil treat my neighbour as my neighbour treated me; I will repay everyone what eachhas earned.'	29 Say not, "As he did to me, so will I do to him; I will repay the man according to his deeds."
30 By the idler's field I was passing, by the vineyard of a man who had no sense,	30 I passed by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man without sense;
31 there it al lay, deep in thorns, entirely overgrown with weeds, and its stone wal broken down.	31 And behold! it was all overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall broken down.
32 And as I gazed I pondered, I drew this lesson from the sight,	32 And as I gazed at it, I reflected; I saw and learned the lesson:
33 'A little sleep, a little drowsiness, a little folding of the arms to lie back	33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest--
34 and poverty comes like a vagrant, and, like a beggar, dearth.'	34 Then will poverty come upon you like a highwayman, and want like an armed man.