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Proverbs 24

Don't envy evil men, and don't desire to be with them. Their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. A house is built by wisdom, and by understanding it is established. By knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

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A house is built by wisdom

Don't envy evil men, and don't desire to be with them. Their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. A house is built by wisdom, and by understanding it is established. By knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength. By wise counsel you will make your war, and in a multitude of counsellors there is safety. Wisdom is too high for a fool; he doesn't open his mouth in the gate. Whoever plans to do evil will be called a mischievous person. The thought of foolishness is sin, and the mocker is disgusting to men. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those stumbling towards slaughter. If you say, ‘We didn't know,’ doesn't the one who weighs hearts consider it? Doesn't the one who keeps your soul know it? Won't he repay every man according to his works? My son, eat honey because it's good, and the honeycomb because it's sweet to your taste. So will the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul. When you find it, there will be a reward, and your expectation won't be cut off. Don't lie in wait, wicked man, against the home of the righteous; don't ruin his resting place. A righteous man may fall seven times and get up again, but the wicked fall into disaster. Don't rejoice when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart be glad when he stumbles, or the LORD may see it and be displeased, and turn his anger away from him. Don't fret because of evil men, and don't envy the wicked. There will be no reward for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Don't be jealous of evil men, and don't want to be with them. Because their heart works out ruin, and their lips talk about trouble. A house is built by wisdom, and by understanding it's set up. And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong. Yes, a man of knowledge makes his strength greater. Because you'll make your war by wise advice, and in the crowd of counsellors there's safety. Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn't open his mouth in the gate. The one who plans to do evil will be called a mischief maker. The thought of folly is sin, and the mocker is disgusting to men. If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small. Rescue the ones being taken to death, and hold back the ones being taken to be killed. If you say: Look, we didn't know it — doesn't the one who weighs the hearts think about it? And doesn't the one who keeps your soul know it? And won't he pay every man back according to what he's done? My son, eat honey, because it's good, and the honeycomb, that's sweet to your taste. That's what knowing wisdom will be to your soul. When you've found it, then there'll be an end, and what you're hoping for won't be cut off. Don't lie in wait, wicked man, against the home of the righteous. Don't spoil his resting place. Because a righteous man falls seven times and gets up again, but the wicked will fall into trouble. Don't be glad when the one against you falls, and don't let your heart celebrate when he stumbles — or the Lord will see it and it'll be bad in his eyes, and he'll turn his anger away from him. Don't worry yourself because of evil men, and don't be jealous of the wicked. Because there won't be any end for the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 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? My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 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. Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

1

Don't envy evil men, and don't desire to be with them.

Plain English

Don't be jealous of evil men, and don't want to be with them.

King James Version, 1611

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

2

Their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Plain English

Because their heart works out ruin, and their lips talk about trouble.

King James Version, 1611

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

3

A house is built by wisdom, and by understanding it is established.

Plain English

A house is built by wisdom, and by understanding it's set up.

King James Version, 1611

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

4

By knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Plain English

And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

King James Version, 1611

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5

A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.

Plain English

A wise man is strong. Yes, a man of knowledge makes his strength greater.

King James Version, 1611

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

6

By wise counsel you will make your war, and in a multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Plain English

Because you'll make your war by wise advice, and in the crowd of counsellors there's safety.

King James Version, 1611

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7

Wisdom is too high for a fool; he doesn't open his mouth in the gate.

Plain English

Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn't open his mouth in the gate.

King James Version, 1611

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8

Whoever plans to do evil will be called a mischievous person.

Plain English

The one who plans to do evil will be called a mischief maker.

King James Version, 1611

He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

9

The thought of foolishness is sin, and the mocker is disgusting to men.

Plain English

The thought of folly is sin, and the mocker is disgusting to men.

King James Version, 1611

The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Plain English

If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

King James Version, 1611

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

11

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those stumbling towards slaughter.

Plain English

Rescue the ones being taken to death, and hold back the ones being taken to be killed.

King James Version, 1611

If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

12

If you say, ‘We didn't know,’ doesn't the one who weighs hearts consider it? Doesn't the one who keeps your soul know it? Won't he repay every man according to his works?

Plain English

If you say: Look, we didn't know it — doesn't the one who weighs the hearts think about it? And doesn't the one who keeps your soul know it? And won't he pay every man back according to what he's done?

King James Version, 1611

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?

13

My son, eat honey because it's good, and the honeycomb because it's sweet to your taste.

Plain English

My son, eat honey, because it's good, and the honeycomb, that's sweet to your taste.

King James Version, 1611

My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

14

So will the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul. When you find it, there will be a reward, and your expectation won't be cut off.

Plain English

That's what knowing wisdom will be to your soul. When you've found it, then there'll be an end, and what you're hoping for won't be cut off.

King James Version, 1611

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.

15

Don't lie in wait, wicked man, against the home of the righteous; don't ruin his resting place.

Plain English

Don't lie in wait, wicked man, against the home of the righteous. Don't spoil his resting place.

King James Version, 1611

Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

16

A righteous man may fall seven times and get up again, but the wicked fall into disaster.

Plain English

Because a righteous man falls seven times and gets up again, but the wicked will fall into trouble.

King James Version, 1611

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17

Don't rejoice when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart be glad when he stumbles,

Plain English

Don't be glad when the one against you falls, and don't let your heart celebrate when he stumbles —

King James Version, 1611

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18

or the LORD may see it and be displeased, and turn his anger away from him.

Plain English

or the Lord will see it and it'll be bad in his eyes, and he'll turn his anger away from him.

King James Version, 1611

Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19

Don't fret because of evil men, and don't envy the wicked.

Plain English

Don't worry yourself because of evil men, and don't be jealous of the wicked.

King James Version, 1611

Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

20

There will be no reward for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Plain English

Because there won't be any end for the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

King James Version, 1611

For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

The field of the lazy man

My son, fear the LORD and the king, and don't meddle with those given to change. Their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that will come from both? These sayings also belong to the wise: showing partiality in judgment is not good. Whoever says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ will be cursed by the people and hated by nations. But those who rebuke the wicked will find delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. Every man will kiss the lips of the one who gives a right answer. Prepare your work outside and make it ready in the field; afterwards build your house. Don't be a witness against your neighbour without cause, and don't deceive with your lips. Don't say, ‘I'll do to him what he did to me; I'll repay the man according to his work.’ I went past the field of the lazy man, and past the vineyard of the man without understanding. It was all overgrown with thorns, nettles covered its surface, and its stone wall was broken down. I looked at it, took it to heart, and learned a lesson from what I saw. A little more sleep, a little more slumber, a little more folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come like a traveller, and want like an armed man.

My son, fear the Lord and the king, and don't mix with the ones who want change. Because their disaster will get up suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both? These things belong to the wise too. It isn't good to take sides in judgment. The one who says to the wicked, You're righteous — the people will curse him, nations will loathe him. But it'll be a delight to the ones who tell him off, and a good blessing will come on them. Every man will kiss the lips of the one who gives a right answer. Get your work ready outside and make it fit for yourself in the field. And after that, build your house. Don't be a witness against your neighbour for no reason, and don't take people in with your lips. Don't say: I'll do to him the way he's done to me. I'll pay the man back according to what he's done. I went past the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man with no understanding. And it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was pulled down. Then I saw and thought hard about it. I looked at it and took teaching. A bit more sleep, a bit more slumber, a bit more folding of the hands to sleep — so your poverty comes like one who travels, and your want like an armed man.

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

21

My son, fear the LORD and the king, and don't meddle with those given to change.

Plain English

My son, fear the Lord and the king, and don't mix with the ones who want change.

King James Version, 1611

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

22

Their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that will come from both?

Plain English

Because their disaster will get up suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both?

King James Version, 1611

For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23

These sayings also belong to the wise: showing partiality in judgment is not good.

Plain English

These things belong to the wise too. It isn't good to take sides in judgment.

King James Version, 1611

These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24

Whoever says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ will be cursed by the people and hated by nations.

Plain English

The one who says to the wicked, You're righteous — the people will curse him, nations will loathe him.

King James Version, 1611

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25

But those who rebuke the wicked will find delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.

Plain English

But it'll be a delight to the ones who tell him off, and a good blessing will come on them.

King James Version, 1611

But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26

Every man will kiss the lips of the one who gives a right answer.

King James Version, 1611

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

27

Prepare your work outside and make it ready in the field; afterwards build your house.

Plain English

Get your work ready outside and make it fit for yourself in the field. And after that, build your house.

King James Version, 1611

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28

Don't be a witness against your neighbour without cause, and don't deceive with your lips.

Plain English

Don't be a witness against your neighbour for no reason, and don't take people in with your lips.

King James Version, 1611

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

29

Don't say, ‘I'll do to him what he did to me; I'll repay the man according to his work.’

Plain English

Don't say: I'll do to him the way he's done to me. I'll pay the man back according to what he's done.

King James Version, 1611

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30

I went past the field of the lazy man, and past the vineyard of the man without understanding.

Plain English

I went past the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man with no understanding.

King James Version, 1611

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31

It was all overgrown with thorns, nettles covered its surface, and its stone wall was broken down.

Plain English

And it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was pulled down.

King James Version, 1611

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32

I looked at it, took it to heart, and learned a lesson from what I saw.

Plain English

Then I saw and thought hard about it. I looked at it and took teaching.

King James Version, 1611

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

33

A little more sleep, a little more slumber, a little more folding of the hands to rest—

Plain English

A bit more sleep, a bit more slumber, a bit more folding of the hands to sleep —

King James Version, 1611

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34

and poverty will come like a traveller, and want like an armed man.

Plain English

so your poverty comes like one who travels, and your want like an armed man.

King James Version, 1611

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.