Proverbs 24

¹[My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.

²For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.

³A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.

⁴By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.

⁵A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.

⁶War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.

⁷Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,

⁸but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].

⁹The fool also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.

⁹The fools also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.

¹⁰He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.

¹¹Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help].

¹¹Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [your help].

¹²But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.

¹²But if you should say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.

¹³[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened.

¹³[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that your throat may be sweetened.

¹⁴Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee.

¹⁴Thus shall you perceive wisdom in your soul: for if you find it, your end shall be good, and hope shall not fail you.

¹⁵Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.

¹⁶For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.

¹⁷If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.

¹⁷If your enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.

¹⁸For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.

¹⁹Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.

²⁰For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.

²¹[My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.

²²For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both? [A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for [such an one] has fully received it. Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue. The king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to [it] shall be destroyed: for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men's bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not [even] fit to be eaten by the young eagles. [My] son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.] These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease. For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men. God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy. Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children? For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him. Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar. Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die. Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth [or ] poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient: lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear [vainly ] by the name of God. Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed. A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother. A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way. A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids. A wicked generation have swords [for ] teeth and jaw-teeth [as ] knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men.

²²For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both? [A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for [such an one] has fully received it. Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yes, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue. The king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whoever shall be given up to [it] shall be destroyed: for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men's bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not [even] fit to be eaten by the young eagles. [My] son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.]

²³And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

²⁴He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.

²⁵But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;

²⁶and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.

²⁷Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.

²⁷Prepare your works for [your] going forth, and prepare yourself for the field; and come after me, and you shall rebuild your house.

²⁸Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips.

²⁸Be not a false witness against your [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with your lips.

²⁹Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.

³⁰A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.

³¹If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.

³¹If you let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.

³²Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.

³³[The sluggard says], I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.

³³[The sluggard says, ]I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.

³⁴But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier.

³⁴But if you do this, your poverty will come speedily; and your lack like a swift courier.

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Septuagint (Brenton, 1851)

Septuagint (LXX2012)