Proverbs 24

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:	1 Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
2 Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.	2 For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
3 By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.	3 By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
4 By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.	4 By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
5 A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.	5 A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
6 Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.	6 For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.	7 Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
8 He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.	8 Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
9 The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.	9 The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
10 If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.	10 If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
11 Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.	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 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.	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 Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:	13 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
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.	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, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.	15 Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.	16 For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
17 When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:	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, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.	18 lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
19 Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:	19 Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
20 For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall 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: and have nothing to do with detracters.	21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
22 For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?	22 For their perdition shall up rise suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
23 These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.	23 Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
24 They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.	24 Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
25 They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.	25 Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.	26 He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
27 Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.	27 Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
28 Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.	28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
29 Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.	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 slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:	30 I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
31 And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.	31 and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
32 Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.	32 When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
33 Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little 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 And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.	34 And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”