Wisdom Builds the House
Building and rescue. A house is built by wisdom, and a righteous man falls seven times and gets up. It refuses the pleasure of an enemy's fall, and refuses the excuse that we did not know when people are led away to death. A weed-choked vineyard teaches it.
24 1Do not envy evil men, and do not desire to be with them, 2for their hearts plot violence, and their lips speak of trouble.
3By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; 4and by knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge increases his power, 6for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and victory comes through many counselors.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool; at the gate, he has nothing to say. 8Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. 9A fool's scheming is sin, and the scoffer is detestable to people.
10If you falter in a time of trouble, your strength is small. 11Rescue those being taken away to death, and hold back those stumbling toward the slaughter. 12If you say, "Look, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who watches over your soul know it? And will he not repay each person according to his deeds?
13My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb's drippings are sweet to your taste. 14Know that wisdom is just like this to your soul; if you find it, there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
15Do not lie in wait, you wicked man, against the home of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place, 16for though the righteous falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked stumble in disaster.
17Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18lest our Father see it and be displeased, and turn his anger away from him.
19Do not fret because of evildoers, and do not envy the wicked, 20for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21My son, fear our Father and the king, and do not join with those who rebel against them, 22for their disaster will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that both of them can bring?
Justice Without Partiality
23These also are sayings of the wise: Showing partiality in judgment is not good. 24Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent," peoples will curse him and nations will denounce him, 25but it will go well for those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come upon them. 26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. 27Prepare your work outside, get your fields ready, and after that build your house. 28Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause; would you deceive with your lips? 29Do not say, "I will do to him as he did to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done." 30I passed by the field of a lazy man, by the vineyard of someone lacking sense, 31and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down. 32Then I looked and took it to heart; I saw and received instruction. 33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 34and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and scarcity like an armed man.
