Proverbs24

Proverbs 24 warns against envying evil men, instead promoting wisdom as the foundation for strength, prosperity, and righteous living. It emphasizes the duty to deliver those in peril and to exercise impartial judgment, while cautioning against rejoicing in an enemy's misfortune. The chapter also highlights the severe consequences of slothfulness, urging diligence and preparation.

Do Not Envy Wicked Men

1
Be not thou enuious against euill men, neither desire to be with them.
2
For their heart imagineth destruction, and their lippes speake mischiefe.

Wisdom Builds and Establishes

3
Through wisdome is an house builded, and with vnderstanding it is established.
4
And by knowledge shall the chambers bee filled with all precious, and pleasant riches.
5
A wise man is strong: for a man of vnderstanding encreaseth his strength.
6
For with counsel thou shalt enterprise thy warre, and in the multitude of them that can giue counsell, is health.

The Folly of Evil and Sloth

7
Wisdome is hie to a foole: therefore he can not open his mouth in the gate.
8
Hee that imagineth to doe euill, men shall call him an autour of wickednes.
9
The wicked thought of a foole is sinne, and the scorner is an abomination vnto men.
10
If thou bee faint in the day of aduersitie, thy strength is small.

Deliver Those Drawn to Death

11
Deliuer them that are drawen to death: wilt thou not preserue them that are led to be slaine?
12
If thou say, Beholde, we knew not of it: he that pondereth the heartes, doeth not hee vnderstand it? and hee that keepeth thy soule, knoweth he it not? will not he also recompense euery man according to his workes?

The Sweetness and Reward of Wisdom

13
My sonne, eate hony, for it is good, and the hony combe, for it is sweete vnto thy mouth.
14
So shall the knowledge of wisdome be vnto thy soule, if thou finde it, and there shall be an ende, and thine hope shall not be cut off.

The Resilience of the Righteous

15
Laye no waite, O wicked man, against the house of the righteous, and spoyle not his resting place.
16
For a iust man falleth seuen times, and riseth againe: but the wicked fall into mischiefe.

Do Not Rejoice at an Enemy's Fall

17
Bee thou not glad when thine enemie falleth, and let not thine heart reioyce when hee stumbleth,
18
Least the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turne his wrath from him.
19
Fret not thy selfe because of the malicious, neither be enuious at the wicked.
20
For there shall bee none ende of plagues to the euill man: the light of the wicked shall bee put out.

Fear God and Honor the King

21
My sonne feare the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with them that are sedicious.
22
For their destruction shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?

Further Sayings of the Wise

23
ALSO THESE THINGS PERTEINE TO THE WISE, It is not good to haue respect of any person in iudgement.
24
He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous, him shall the people curse, and the multitude shall abhorre him.
25
But to them that rebuke him, shall be pleasure, and vpon them shall come the blessing of goodnesse.
26
They shall kisse the lippes of him that answereth vpright wordes.
27
Prepare thy worke without, and make readie thy thinges in the fielde, and after, builde thine house.
28
Be not a witnes against thy neighbour without cause: for wilt thou deceiue with thy lippes?
29
Say not, I wil doe to him, as he hath done to mee, I will recompence euery man according to his worke.

Observation of the Slothful Man’s Field

30
I passed by the fielde of the slouthfull, and by the vineyarde of the man destitute of vnderstanding.
31
And lo, it was al growen ouer with thornes, and nettles had couered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken downe.
32
Then I behelde, and I considered it well: I looked vpon it, and receiued instruction.
33
Yet a litle sleepe, a litle slumber, a litle folding of the handes to sleepe.
34
So thy pouertie commeth as one that traueileth by the way, and thy necessitie like an armed man.
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