Proverbs 24

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

1Do not envy people who do wrong. Do not wish to be with them.

2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

2Their hearts plan ways to hurt people. Their mouths talk about trouble.

3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

3A house is built by wisdom. It stands strong because someone understood how.

4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

4Knowing things fills the rooms of that house. They hold lovely, costly treasures.

5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

5A wise man is strong. A man who knows things grows even stronger.

6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

6Get good advice before you go to war. Many wise helpers bring safety.

7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

7Wisdom is too high for a fool to reach. He has nothing to say at the town gate, where leaders met to decide things.

8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

8A person who plans evil will be called a troublemaker.

9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

9Planning foolish things is sin. People hate anyone who makes fun of others.

10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

10If you give up when hard days come, your strength is small.

11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

11Save people who are being led away to be killed. Do not hold back from helping them.

12If 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?

12You might say, "We did not know about it." But God looks into every heart. He watches over your life. He knows. He pays each person back for what they did.

13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

13My son, eat honey, because it is good. Honey from the comb tastes sweet to you.

14So 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.

14Wisdom is sweet like that inside you. If you find it, you have a good future. Your hope will not be cut off.

15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

15Wicked man, do not hide near a good man's house. Do not wreck the place where he rests.

16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

16A good man may fall down seven times, and he gets up again. But the wicked fall when trouble comes.

17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

17Do not be glad when your enemy falls. Do not cheer inside when he trips.

18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

18The LORD would see it and would not like it. Then he might stop being angry with your enemy.

19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

19Do not get upset about people who do wrong. Do not envy the wicked.

20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

20An evil man has no good future. His lamp will be put out.

21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

21My son, honor the LORD and the king. Do not join people who want to turn against them.

NoteThe KJV says "them that are given to change." That means people who want to rebel against the king, not people who simply like new things.

22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

22Trouble will come to such people all at once. No one knows what ruin the two of them can bring.

23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

23These are more sayings from wise people. It is wrong to treat one person better than another when you judge.

24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

24Someone may tell a guilty person, "You did nothing wrong." People will curse that man. Whole nations will hate him.

25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

25But things go well for those who correct the guilty. A rich blessing comes to them.

26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

26An honest answer is like a warm kiss on the lips.

NoteIn that time and place, a kiss on the lips was a warm greeting between friends. So the saying means a true answer feels like a gift from a friend.

27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

27First finish your work outside. Get your field ready. After that, build your house.

28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

28Do not speak against your neighbor for no reason. Do not tell lies with your mouth.

29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

29Do not say, "I will do to him what he did to me. I will pay that man back."

30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

30I walked past a lazy man's field. I passed the grape field of a man with no sense.

31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

31Thorns had grown up everywhere. Weeds covered the ground. The stone wall had fallen down.

32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

32I looked, and I thought hard about it. I learned something from what I saw.

33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

33A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands.

34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

34Then you will be poor, as if a robber came. You will lack what you need, as if a man with weapons took it.

NoteThe KJV says poverty comes "as one that travelleth." The old word means someone who prowls the roads to rob people, not an ordinary traveler. "Want" in the KJV means lacking what you need.