Proverbs 24

1Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:● 2Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.● 3By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.● 4By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.● 5A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.● 6Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.● 7Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he shall not open his mouth.● 8He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.● 9The thought of a fool is sin: and the detractor is the abomination of men.● 10If thou lose hope, being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.● 11Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death, forbear not to deliver.● 12If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.● 13Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat.● 14So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.● 15Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.● 16For a just man shall fall seven times, and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.● 17When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:● 18Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.● 19Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly.● 20For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.● 21My son, fear the Lord, and the king: and have nothing to do with detractors.● 22For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?● 23These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.● 24They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.● 25They that rebuke him shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.● 26He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.● 27Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.● 28Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.● 29Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.● 30I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:● 31And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.● 32Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.● 33Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest.● 34And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.●