Proverbs

24 Do not envy evil men,

And do not crave their company,+

 2 For their heart meditates on violence,

And their lips speak of trouble.

 3 By wisdom a house* is built up,+

And by discernment it is made secure.

 4 By knowledge its rooms are filled

With all sorts of precious and pleasant treasures.+

 5 A wise man is powerful,+

And with knowledge a man increases his power.

 6 By skillful direction* you will wage your war,+

And through many advisers* there is victory.*+

 7 True wisdom is unattainable for a fool;+

He has nothing to say in the city gate.

 8 Anyone who plots evil

Will be called a master schemer.+

 9 Foolish schemes* are sinful,

And people detest a ridiculer.+

10 If you become discouraged in the day of distress,*

Your strength will be meager.

11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death,

And hold back those staggering to the slaughter.+

Yes, the One who watches you* will know

And will repay each man according to his activity.+

13 My son, eat honey, because it is good;

Honey from the comb is sweet to the taste.

If you find it, you will have a future

And your hope will not be cut off.+

15 Do not wickedly lie in ambush near the home of the righteous one;

Do not destroy his place of rest.

16 For the righteous one may fall seven times, and he will get up again,+

But the wicked will be made to stumble by calamity.+

17 When your enemy falls, do not rejoice,

And when he stumbles, do not let your heart be joyful;+

18 Otherwise, Jehovah will see and be displeased,

And He will turn away his anger from him.*+

19 Do not be upset* because of evil men;

Do not envy wicked people,

20 For there is no future for anyone evil;+

The lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.+

And do not associate with dissenters,*+

22 For their disaster will arise suddenly.+

25 But it will go well for those reproving him;+

Blessings of good things will come upon them.+

27 Prepare your outside work, and get everything ready in the field;

Then build your house.*

29 Do not say: “I will do to him just as he has done to me;

I will repay him for what he did.”*+

30 I passed by the field of the lazy one,+

By the vineyard of the man lacking good sense.*

31 I saw that it was overgrown with weeds;

The ground was covered with nettles,

And its stone wall was broken down.+

32 I observed this and took it to heart;

I saw it and learned this lesson:*

33 A little sleep, a little slumbering,

A little folding of the hands to rest,

34 And your poverty will come like a bandit,

And your want like an armed man.+