Proverbs 24 - Common English Bible (CEB)

24 Don’t envy evil people,
and don’t long to be with them.
2 Their hearts are focused on violence,
and their lips speak of trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built;
by understanding it is established.
4 By knowledge rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant wealth.
5 A wise person is mightier than a strong one;[a]
a knowledgeable person than a powerful one.
6 You should make war with guidance;
victory comes with many counselors.

7 Wisdom is beyond foolish people.
They don’t open their mouths in the gate.
8 Those who plot evil
will be called master schemers.
9 The scheming of fools is sin;
people detest mockers.

10 If you show yourself weak on a day of distress,
your strength is too small.
11 Rescue those being taken off to death;
and from those staggering to the slaughter, don’t hold back.
12 If you say, “Look, we didn’t know about it,”
the one who weighs hearts—doesn’t he understand?
The one who protects your life—he knows.
He makes people pay for their actions.

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good.
The honeycomb is sweet in your mouth.
14 Know that wisdom is like that for your whole being.
If you find it, there is a future.
Your hope won’t be cut off.

15 Wicked one, don’t wait secretly at the home of the righteous.
Don’t destroy their dwelling.
16 The righteous may fall seven times but still get up,
but the wicked will stumble into trouble.

17 When your enemies fall, don’t rejoice.
When they stumble, don’t let your heart be glad,
18 or the Lord will see it and be displeased,
and he will turn his anger from them.
19 Don’t get fighting mad at evil people;
don’t be envious of the wicked.
20 Indeed, there is no future for the evil;
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king.
Don’t associate with those who are rebellious.
22 Disaster comes suddenly from them.
Who can know the ruin that both can bring?

More sayings of the wise

23 These are also the sayings of the wise:

Partiality in judgment isn’t good.

24 Those who say to the guilty, “You are innocent”—
the people will curse them.
Nations will condemn them.
25 But it will go well for those who rebuke them.
A rich blessing will come to them.
26 Those who speak honestly
are like those who kiss on the lips.

27 Get your outside work done;
make preparations in the field;
then you can build your house.

28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without reason;
don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to them what they did to me.
I’ll pay them back for their actions.”

30 I happened upon the field of a lazy person,
by the vineyard of one with no sense.
31 Thorns grew all over it;
weeds covered the ground,
and the stone wall was falling down.
32 I observed this and took it to heart;
I saw it and learned a lesson.
33 “A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little lying down with folded arms”—
34 and poverty will come on you like a prowler,
deprivation like a man with a shield.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:5 LXX; MT A wise man is strong.

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24 Be not envious of evil men, And desire not to be with them. 2 For destruction doth their heart meditate, And perverseness do their lips speak. 3 By wisdom is a house builded, And by understanding it establisheth itself. 4 And by knowledge the inner parts are filled, [With] all precious and pleasa...
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Proverbs 24 - World English Bible (WEB)

24 Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;2 for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.3 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.5 A wise man has great po...
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Proverbs 24 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

24 Do not envy evil people,or desire to be with them,2 for their hearts contemplate violence,and their lips speak mischief. Strength Through Wise Counsel3 By wisdom a house is built,by understanding it is prepared,4 and by knowledge its rooms are filledwith every rare and pleasing treasure.5 A wise ...
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Proverbs 24 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

24 Be not envious of evil men,nor desire to be with them;2 for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief. 3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.5 A wise man is mightier than a ...
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Proverbs 24 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

24 Be not envious of evil men,nor desire to be with them;2 for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief. 3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.5 A wise man is mightier than a ...
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Proverbs 24 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

24 Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them;2 for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief. 3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.5 Wise warriors are mightier than s...
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Proverbs 24 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

24 Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them,(A)2 for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief.(B)3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;(C)4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.5 Wise warriors are mightie...
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Proverbs 24 - New Living Translation (NLT)

24 Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.2 For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble. 3 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables. 5 The wise are migh...
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Proverbs 24 - New Life Version (NLV)

24 Do not be jealous of sinful men. Do not want to be with them. 2 For their hearts make plans to hurt others and their lips talk about trouble. 3 A house is built by wisdom. It is made strong by understanding, 4 and by much learning the rooms are filled with all riches that are pleasing and of gr...
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Proverbs 24 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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Proverbs 24 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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