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24:1 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; 24:2 For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. 24:3 By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; 24:4 And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. 24:5 A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. 24:6 For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. 24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate. 24:8 He who plans to do evil, Men will call him a schemer. 24:9 The devising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men. 24:10 If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited. 24:11 Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold [them] back. 24:12 If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider [it] who weighs the hearts? And does He not know [it] who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? 24:13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; 24:14 Know [that] wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find [it], then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off. 24:15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place; 24:16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in [time of] calamity. 24:17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 24:18 Lest the LORD see [it] and be displeased, And He turn away His anger from him. 24:19 Do not fret because of evildoers, Or be envious of the wicked; 24:20 For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out. 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change; 24:22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin [that comes] from both of them? 24:23 These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good. 24:24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him; 24:25 But to those who rebuke the [wicked] will be delight, And a good blessing will come upon them. 24:26 He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer. 24:27 Prepare your work outside, And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house. 24:28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips. 24:29 Do not say, "Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work." 24:30 I passed by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense; 24:31 And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles, Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. 24:32 When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, [and] received instruction. 24:33 "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest," 24:34 Then your poverty will come [as] a robber, And your want like an armed man.