Proverbs 24

1 Do not [never, under no circumstances] envy [be jealous of, resent] wicked [evil, morally bad] men [individuals, people] or [nor] desire [strongly wish for, long to be with] their [to be in their presence] company [to be with them, associate with them]; word study 2 for their hearts [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] devise [plan, plot, or meditate on] violence [destruction, social sin, or ruin], and their lips [language, edge, or border of expression] declare [speak, communicate, or talk about] trouble [hard work, worry, pain, or mischief]. word study 3 By [through, with] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] a house [dwelling place, family, or temple] is built [constructed, established] and by [through, with] understanding [insight, discretion, or intelligence] it is established [set up, made strong, or secured]; word study 4 through [true, spiritual] knowledge [understanding] its rooms [chambers, innermost parts] are filled [made complete, fulfilled] with every [all, everything] precious [valuable, highly esteemed] and beautiful [pleasant, delightful] treasure [substance, wealth, riches]. word study 5 A wise [skilled, intelligent, prudent] man is strong [powerful, mighty], and a man of knowledge [understanding, insight] enhances [increases, strengthens] his strength [might, power, ability to overcome]. word study 6 Only with sound [wise, prudent] guidance [counsel, advice] should you wage [engage in, undertake] war [battle, conflict], and victory [deliverance, salvation] lies [is found, is secured] in a multitude [abundance, greatness] of counselors [advisors, guides]. word study 7 Wisdom [divine insight, good judgment] is too high [exalted, lofty] for a fool [one who despises wisdom]; he does not [is unable to] open [utter, speak] his mouth [lips, words] in the meeting place [gate, public gathering]. word study 8 He who [devises, plots to] plots [to do, devising] evil [wickedness, bad] will be called [named, known as] a [mischievous, master of wicked thoughts] schemer [troublemaker, mischief-maker]. word study 9 A foolish [wicked, sinful] scheme [plan, thought of foolishness] is sin [guilt, punishment for sin], and a mocker [scoffer, one who despises authority] is detestable [an abomination, disgusting] to men [humanity, people]. word study 10 If you faint [give way, lose hope] in the day [time of trouble, period of adversity] of distress [adversity, hardship], how small [weak, limited] is your strength [power, might, ability to cope]! word study 11 Rescue [deliver, snatch away] those being led away to death [unto death, to be slain], and restrain [withhold, hold back] those stumbling [drawn, ready] toward the slaughter [to be slaughtered, killed]. word study 12 If you say, “Behold [look, take notice], we did not know [were unaware, had no knowledge] about this,” does not He who weighs [measures, evaluates] hearts [the center of emotions and thoughts] consider [understand, ponder] it? Does not the One who guards [watches over, protects] your life [soul, living being] know [be aware, have knowledge of]? Will He not repay [give back, reward] a man [human being, individual] according to his deeds [actions, works, what he has done]? word study 13 Eat [devour, consume] honey [a sweet and valuable food], my son [a child, descendant], for [because, since] it is [exists as, is characterized by] good [pleasant, beneficial, welfare], and the honeycomb [honey, something sweet and flowing] is sweet [pleasant, agreeable] to your taste [palate, the roof of the mouth]. word study 14 Know therefore [be aware, understand] that wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] is sweet [pleasant, delightful] to your soul [the essence of a person, living being]. If you find [discover, attain] it, there is a future [end, posterity] for you, and your hope [expectation, cord of expectancy] will never [not at all] be cut off [destroyed, severed]. word study 15 Do not [under no circumstances] lie in wait [ambush, hide and wait to attack], O wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] man, near the dwelling [habitation, home] of the righteous [just, upright]; do not [refrain from] destroy [ruin, devastate] his resting place [place of rest, peaceful abode]. word study 16 For though a [morally upright, just] righteous man [a just person, having God’s nature] may fall [stumble, be defeated] seven times, he still gets up [rises again, stands firm]; but the [morally wrong, guilty] wicked stumble [fall, are overthrown] in [times of] bad [evil, calamity] times. word study 17 Do not [by no means, never] gloat [rejoice, be glad] when your enemy [adversary, one who hates you] falls [is overthrown, stumbles], and do not let your heart [inner being, mind] rejoice [be joyful, celebrate] when he stumbles [trips up, is defeated], word study 18 or the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] will see [look after, observe] and disapprove [be displeased, consider evil], and turn [return, turn back] His wrath [anger] away from him [upon him, against him]. word study 19 Do not [refrain from, let not be] fret [be incensed, intensely angry] over evildoers [those who do evil, the malicious], and do not [never, under no circumstances] be envious [jealous, resentful] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin]. word study 20 For [because of their actions] the evil [morally bad, wicked] man has no [none, not any] future [end, outcome, posterity]; the lamp [a candle, a light] of the wicked [guilty of sin, morally wrong] will be extinguished [put out, snuffed out]. word study 21 My son [child, descendant], fear [revere, stand in awe of] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and the king [royal person, ruler], and do not [let not be] associate [mix, pledge yourself] with the rebellious [those given to change, sedicious ones]. word study 22 For [because of their actions] they will bring [suddenly, without warning] sudden [unexpected, swift] destruction [calamity, disaster]. Who [what person] knows [is aware of, understands] what [the extent of] ruin [destruction, devastation] they [both, as a pair] can [are able to] bring [cause to happen]? word study 23 These [even] also are sayings [words of wisdom, teachings] of the wise [skilled, prudent leaders]: To show [have respect for, discern] partiality [favoritism, unfair bias] in judgment [justice, decision-making] is not [absent, lacking] good [pleasant, beneficial, righteous]. word study 24 Whoever tells [says to, speaks to] the guilty [wicked, morally wrong], “You [as an individual, personally] are innocent [righteous, just]”— peoples [nations, communities] will curse [pierce with violent emotion, blaspheme] him, and nations [people groups, countries] will denounce [abhor, be indignant towards] him; word study 25 but it will go well [be pleasant, have delight] with those who convict [rebuke, say sharp words to] the guilty, and rich [good, abundant] blessing [a gift from God, bringing prosperity] will come upon [on, above] them. word study 26 An honest [straightforward, morally upright] answer given is like a kiss [to touch, show affection] on the lips [the edge of speech, language]. word study 27 Complete [finish, bring to an end] your outdoor [in the open air, outside] work [labor, task] and prepare [make ready, establish] your field [land, cultivated area]; after [following, later] that, you may build [construct, establish] your house [dwelling place, home]. word study 28 Do not [without reason or cause] testify [be a witness, give false testimony] against your neighbor [close friend, companion] without cause [for nothing, in vain], and do not [refuse to] deceive [entice, mislead] with your lips [words, language, the edge of your mouth]. word study 29 Do not [never, under no circumstances] say, “I will do [repay, recompense] to him as he has done [treated, acted] to me; I will repay [render, give back] the man [individual, person] according to his work [deeds, actions, what he has done].” word study 30 I went past [walked by, passed by] the field [land, cultivated area] of a slacker [sluggish, lazy man, slothful] and by the vineyard [garden or plot of land for growing vines] of a man [individual, person] lacking [void of, destitute of] judgment [understanding, sense, heart]. word study 31 Thorns [prickly plants, like thistles or nettles] had grown up everywhere [all over, completely], thistles [weeds, unwanted plants] had covered [filled, hidden from view] the ground [the face of the earth], and the stone [rock, precious] wall [fence, barrier] was broken down [overthrown, destroyed, fallen]. word study 32 I [as the speaker, referring to myself] observed [saw and considered it well, beheld] and took it to heart [set my heart, laid it up in my heart]; I looked [saw, gazed upon] and received instruction [discipline, correction, teaching from it]: word study 33 A little [small in amount, brief] sleep [rest, slumber], a little [short, fleeting] slumber [drowsiness, lethargy], a little [small, insignificant] folding [idly, lazily] of the hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] to rest [lie down, be inactive], word study 34 and poverty [coming as a traveler, like an outlaw] will come upon you like a robber [an armed warrior, a bandit], and need [a lack or shortage, a state of want] like a bandit [an armed man, a warrior]. word study