1 Don’t envy the evil i
or desire to be with them, j
2 for their hearts plan violence,
and their words stir up trouble. k
3 A house is built by wisdom, l
and it is established by understanding;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with every precious and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise warrior is better than a strong one,
and a man of knowledge than one of strength; ,m
6 for you should wage war with sound guidance—
victory comes with many counselors. n
7 Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; o
he does not open his mouth at the city gate. p
8 The one who plots evil q
will be called a schemer.
9 A foolish scheme is sin,
and a mocker is detestable to people.
10 If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.
11 Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter. r
12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t he who weighs hearts s consider it?
Won’t he who protects your life t know?
Won’t he repay a person according to his work? u
13 Eat honey, v my son, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; w
14 realize that wisdom is the same for you. x
If you find it, you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade. y
15 Don’t set an ambush, you wicked one,
at the camp of the righteous man; z
don’t destroy his dwelling.
16 Though a righteous person falls seven times,
he will get up, a
but the wicked will stumble into ruin. b
17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, c
18 or the LORD will see, be displeased,
and turn his wrath away from him.
19 Don’t be agitated by evildoers,
and don’t envy the wicked. d
20 For the evil have no future; e
the lamp of the wicked will be put out. f
21 My son, fear the LORD, as well as the king, g
and don’t associate with rebels,
22 for destruction will come suddenly from them;
who knows what distress these two can bring?
23 These sayings also belong to the wise: h
It is not good to show partiality in judgment. i
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent” j—
peoples will curse him, k and nations will denounce him;
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a generous blessing will come to them.
26 He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; l
afterward, build your house.
28 Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. m
Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me;
I’ll repay the man for what he has done.” n
30 I went by the field of a slacker
and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.
31 Thistles had come up everywhere,
weeds covered the ground, o
and the stone wall was ruined.
32 I saw, and took it to heart;
I looked, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
34 and your poverty will come like a robber,
and your need, like a bandit. p
24:1–9. Proverbs 24:1–22 contrasts evil plotting (24:1–2, 8–9, 15–16) with wise planning (24:3–7). Repeated warnings against envying the wicked (24:1, 19–20) frame the subunit. Unlike evil men who plan destruction (24:1–2), wisdom is constructive and enriching (24:3–4; cf. 9:1 and 14:1), supremely powerful and effective (24:5–6), and too lofty and unattainable for fools (24:7).
24:10–12. In light of the preceding verses, verses 10–12 apparently then challenge the wise to use their “strength” (24:10; cf. 24:5) to rescue the potential victims of such deadly plots—or of any life-threatening crisis (24:11). Feigning ignorance will not suffice when they are confronted by the omniscient discerner of human motives (cf. 16:2; 21:2), protector of lives, and rewarder of deeds (24:12).
24:13–22. The previous contrast from 24:1–9 resumes in 24:13–14, describing wisdom as “honey” for the soul, which gives one a secure and lasting future hope. The call to eat this good “honey” is followed by three warnings regarding one’s attitude toward the wicked. First, we should not act like them in plotting against the righteous, knowing that God will help them get back on their feet again while causing the wicked to stumble (24:15–16). Second, we should not gleefully celebrate our enemies’ downfall, lest God be displeased with our heartless disdain toward fellow human beings and cut short their punishment (or perhaps redirect his attention to us; 24:17–18; cf. 17:5; Jb 31:29). Third, we should neither be vexed by (cf. Ps 37:1, 7–8) nor envy them, since, unlike the wise, evildoers have no future hope. Instead, they will be extinguished like a lamp (24:19–20).
C. More sayings of the wise: The necessity of honesty and diligence (24:23–34). 24:23–26. A new collection of proverbs (24:23–34) is introduced in 24:23a. It addresses two familiar themes: honesty, especially in legal settings, and diligence in one’s work. The basic claim is stated in 24:23b: judicial partiality is not good. Acquitting the guilty rightfully provokes widespread, even national, outrage and condemnation, as the people call on God to curse those who pervert justice but to bless richly those who legally correct wrongdoers (24:24–25). Proverbs 24:26 broadens the theme: a straightforward response, whatever the setting, is as much an expression of devoted love as a kiss on the lips.
24:27–34. Proverbs 24:27 introduces the second theme, diligence, by calling for proper preparations, provisions, and priorities. Then 24:28–29 completes the first theme, warning against being a perjurer or a hostile witness (cf. 3:29–30) motivated by a desire for revenge. The collection concludes with a colorful description of the sluggard’s irrational behavior, along with its consequences (24:30–34; cf. 6:10–11). The rundown condition of the vineyard is a precursor to the resultant poverty, offering the observant sage a valuable lesson.