Proverbs 24

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.	1 Be not emulous of evil men, and desire not to be with them;
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.	2 For their hearts plot violence, and their lips speak of foul play.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:	3 By wisdom is a house built, by understanding is it made firm;
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.	4 And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.	5 A wise man is more powerful than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than a man of might;
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.	6 For it is by wise guidance that you wage your war, and the victory is due to a wealth of counselors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.	7 For a fool, to be silent is wisdom; not to open his mouth at the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.	8 He who plots evil doing-- men call him an intriguer.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.	9 Beyond intrigue and folly and sin, it is arrogance that men find abominable.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.	10 If you remain indifferent in time of adversity, your strength will depart from you.
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;	11 Rescue those who are being dragged to death, and from those tottering to execution withdraw not.
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?	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 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:	13 If you eat honey, my son, because it is good, if virgin honey is sweet to your taste;
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.	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 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:	15 Lie not in wait against the home of the just man, ravage not his dwelling place;
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.	16 For the just man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble to ruin.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:	17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles, let not your heart exult,
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.	18 Lest the LORD see it, be displeased with you, and withdraw his wrath from your enemy.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;	19 Be not provoked with evildoers, nor envious of the wicked;
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.	20 For the evil man has no future, the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:	21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; have nothing to do with those who rebel against them;
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?	22 For suddenly arises the destruction they send, and the ruin from either one, who can measure?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.	23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:	24 He who says to the wicked man, "You are just"-- men will curse him, people will denounce him;
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.	25 But those who convict the evildoer will fare well, and on them will come the blessing of prosperity.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.	26 He gives a kiss on the lips who makes an honest reply.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.	27 Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can establish your house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.	28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without just cause, thus committing folly with your lips.
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.	29 Say not, "As he did to me, so will I do to him; I will repay the man according to his deeds."
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;	30 I passed by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man without sense;
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.	31 And behold! it was all overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.	32 And as I gazed at it, I reflected; I saw and learned the lesson:
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:	33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest--
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.	34 Then will poverty come upon you like a highwayman, and want like an armed man.