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Proverbs Chapter 24

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darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established;
4 and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.
5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 For with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.
9 The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 [If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
11 Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:
14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.
16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
18 lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:
20 for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;
25 but to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.
26 He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.
27 Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;
31 and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:
33 — A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!
34 So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them.
2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.
3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.
4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.
5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.
7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9 The fool also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help].
12 But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.
13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened.
14 Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee.
15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17 If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.
18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.
19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.
20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.
22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23 And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.
28 Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips.
29 Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 [The sluggard says], I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
34 But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier.
35 The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.
36 The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.
37 The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.
38 Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:
39 the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.
40 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
41 By three things the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear:
42 if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;
43 or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
44 And [there are] four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:
45 the ants which are weak, and [yet ] prepare [their ] food in summer;
46 the rabbits also [are ] a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.
47 The locusts have no king, and [yet ] march orderly at one command.
48 And the eft, which supports itself by [its ] hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
49 And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.
50 A lion's whelp, stronger than [all other] beasts, which turns not away, nor fears [any ] beast;
51 and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and a goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
52 If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced.
53 Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wring [one's ] nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.
54 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
55 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
56 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
57 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
58 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
59 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:
60 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.
61 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.
62 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Ne æmuleris viros malos, nec desideres esse cum eis:
2 quia rapinas meditatur mens eorum, et fraudes labia eorum loquuntur.
3 Sapientia ædificabitur domus, et prudentia roborabitur.
4 In doctrina replebuntur cellaria, universa substantia pretiosa et pulcherrima.
5 Vir sapiens, fortis est: et vir doctus, robustus et validus.
6 Quia cum dispositione initur bellum: et erit salus ubi multa consilia sunt.
7 Excelsa stulto sapientia, in porta non aperiet os suum.
8 Qui cogitat mala facere, stultus vocabitur.
9 Cogitatio stulti peccatum est: et abominatio hominum detractor.
10 Si desperaveris lassus in die angustiæ: imminuetur fortitudo tua.
11 Erue eos, qui ducuntur ad mortem: et qui trahuntur ad interitum liberare ne cesses.
12 Si dixeris: Vires non suppetunt: qui inspector est cordis, ipse intelligit, et servatorem animæ tuæ nihil fallit, reddetque homini iuxta opera sua.
13 Comede, fili mi, mel, quia bonum est, et favum dulcissimum gutturi tuo:
14 Sic et doctrina sapientiæ animæ tuæ: quam cum inveneris, habebis in novissimis spem, et spes tua non peribit.
15 Ne insidieris, et quæras impietatem in domo iusti, neque vastes requiem eius.
16 Septies enim cadet iustus, et resurget: impii autem corruent in malum.
17 Cum ceciderit inimicus tuus, ne gaudeas, et in ruina eius ne exultet cor tuum:
18 ne forte videat Dominus, et displiceat ei, et auferat ab eo iram suam.
19 Ne contendas cum pessimis, nec æmuleris impios:
20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali, et lucerna impiorum extinguetur.
21 Time Dominum, fili mi, et regem: et cum detractoribus non commiscearis:
22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum: et ruinam utriusque quis novit?
23 Hæc quoque sapientibus: Cognoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum.
24 Qui dicunt impio: Iustus es: maledicent eis populi, et detestabuntur eos tribus.
25 Qui arguunt eum, laudabuntur: et super ipsos veniet benedictio.
26 Labia deosculabitur, qui recta verba respondet.
27 Præpara foris opus tuum, et diligenter exerce agrum tuum: ut postea ædifices domum tuam.
28 Ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum: nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis.
29 Ne dicas: Quomodo fecit mihi, sic faciam ei: reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.
30 Per agrum hominis pigri transivi, et per vineam viri stulti:
31 et ecce totum repleverant urticæ, et operuerant superficiem eius spinæ, et maceria lapidum destructa erat.
32 Quod cum vidissem, posui in corde meo, et exemplo didici disciplinam.
33 Parum, inquam, dormies, modicum dormitabis, pauxillum manus conseres, ut quiescas:
34 et veniet tibi quasi cursor egestas, et mendicitas quasi vir armatus.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 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 power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12 If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not give to every man according to his work?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
14 so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18 lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 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, <FI>With<Fi> all precious and pleasant wealth.
5 Mighty <FI>is<Fi> the wise in strength, And a man of knowledge is strengthening power,
6 For by plans thou makest for thyself war, And deliverance <FI>is<Fi> in a multitude of counsellors.
7 Wisdom <FI>is<Fi> high for a fool, In the gate he openeth not his mouth.
8 Whoso is devising to do evil, Him they call a master of wicked thoughts.
9 The thought of folly <FI>is<Fi> sin, And an abomination to man <FI>is<Fi> a scorner.
10 Thou hast shewed thyself weak in a day of adversity, Straitened is thy power,
11 If <FI>from<Fi> delivering those taken to death, And those slipping to the slaughter--thou keepest back.
12 When thou sayest, `Lo, we knew not this.' Is not the Ponderer of hearts He who understandeth? And the Keeper of thy soul He who knoweth? And He hath rendered to man according to his work.
13 Eat my son, honey that <FI>is<Fi> good, And the honeycomb--sweet to thy palate.
14 So <FI>is<Fi> the knowledge of wisdom to thy soul, If thou hast found that there is a posterity And thy hope is not cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked one, At the habitation of the righteous. Do not spoil his resting-place.
16 For seven <FI>times<Fi> doth the righteous fall and rise, And the wicked stumble in evil.
17 In the falling of thine enemy rejoice not, And in his stumbling let not thy heart be joyful,
18 Lest Jehovah see, and <FI>it be<Fi> evil in His eyes, And He hath turned from off him His anger.
19 Fret not thyself at evil doers, Be not envious at the wicked,
20 For there is not a posterity to the evil, The lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
21 Fear Jehovah, my son, and the king, With changers mix not up thyself,
22 For suddenly doth their calamity rise, And the ruin of them both--who knoweth!
23 These also are for the wise: --To discern faces in judgment is not good.
24 Whoso is saying to the wicked, `Thou <FI>art<Fi> righteous,' Peoples execrate him--nations abhor him.
25 And to those reproving it is pleasant, And on them cometh a good blessing.
26 Lips he kisseth who is returning straightforward words.
27 Prepare in an out-place thy work, And make it ready in the field--go afterwards, Then thou hast built thy house.
28 Be not a witness for nought against thy neighbour, Or thou hast enticed with thy lips.
29 Say not, `As he did to me, so I do to him, I render to each according to his work.'
30 Near the field of a slothful man I passed by, And near the vineyard of a man lacking heart.
31 And lo, it hath gone up--all of it--thorns! Covered its face have nettles, And its stone wall hath been broken down.
32 And I see--I--I do set my heart, I have seen--I have received instruction,
33 A little sleep--a little slumber--A little folding of the hands to lie down.
34 And thy poverty hath come <FI>as<Fi> a traveller, And thy want as an armed man!

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).