Proverbs 24

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.	1 Be not emulous of evil men, and desire not to be with them;
2 For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.	2 For their hearts plot violence, and their lips speak of foul play.
3 By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.	3 By wisdom is a house built, by understanding is it made firm;
4 By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.	4 And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.
5 A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.	5 A wise man is more powerful than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than a man of might;
6 For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.	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 beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.	7 For a fool, to be silent is wisdom; not to open his mouth at the gate.
8 Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.	8 He who plots evil doing-- men call him an intriguer.
9 The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.	9 Beyond intrigue and folly and sin, it is arrogance that men find abominable.
10 If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.	10 If you remain indifferent in time of adversity, your strength will depart from you.
11 Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.	11 Rescue those who are being dragged to death, and from those tottering to execution withdraw not.
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.	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 honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.	13 If you eat honey, my son, because it is good, if virgin honey is sweet to your taste;
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.	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 lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.	15 Lie not in wait against the home of the just man, ravage not his dwelling place;
16 For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.	16 For the just man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble to ruin.
17 When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,	17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles, let not your heart exult,
18 lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.	18 Lest the LORD see it, be displeased with you, and withdraw his wrath from your enemy.
19 Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.	19 Be not provoked with evildoers, nor envious of the wicked;
20 For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.	20 For the evil man has no future, the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.	21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; have nothing to do with those who rebel against them;
22 For their perdition shall up rise suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?	22 For suddenly arises the destruction they send, and the ruin from either one, who can measure?
23 Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.	23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.	24 He who says to the wicked man, "You are just"-- men will curse him, people will denounce him;
25 Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a 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 He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.	26 He gives a kiss on the lips who makes an honest reply.
27 Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.	27 Complete your outdoor tasks, and arrange your work in the field; afterward you can establish your house.
28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone 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 will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one 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 passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,	30 I passed by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man without sense;
31 and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.	31 And behold! it was all overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall broken down.
32 When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.	32 And as I gazed at it, I reflected; I saw and learned the lesson:
33 You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.	33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest--
34 And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”	34 Then will poverty come upon you like a highwayman, and want like an armed man.