Proverbs 24 (Personalized)

 I will not be envious of evil men,

    nor desire to be with them,

for their hearts devise violence,

    and their lips talk of trouble.

By wisdom my house is built,

    and by understanding it is established;

by knowledge our rooms are filled

    with all precious and pleasant riches.

I am wise and full of strength,

    and a man of knowledge enhances my might,

for by wise guidance I can wage my war,

    and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Wisdom is too high for a fool;

    in the gate he does not open his mouth.

Whoever plans to do evil

    will be called a schemer.

The devising of folly is sin,

    and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

If I faint in the day of adversity,

    my strength is small.

Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

If I say, “Behold, I did not know this,”

    does the Lord who weighs the heart not perceive it?

Does God who keeps watch over your soul not know it,

    and will He not repay man according to his work?

I will eat honey, for it is good,

    and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to my taste.

Wisdom is such to my soul;

    if I find it, there will be a future,

    and my hope will not be cut off.

Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;

    do no violence to his home;

for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,

    but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

I do not rejoice when my enemy falls,

    my heart is not glad when he stumbles,

lest the Lord sees it and be displeased,

    and turn away his anger from him.

I do not fret because of evildoers,

    and am not envious of the wicked,

for the evil man has no future;

    the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

I fear the Lord and the king,

    and I do not join with those who do otherwise,

for disaster will arise suddenly from them,

    and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

More Sayings of the Wise

These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.

Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”

    will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,

    and a good blessing will come upon them.

Whoever gives an honest answer

    kisses the lips.

I prepare my work outside;

    get everything ready for myself in the field,

    and after that build I build my house.

I am not a witness against my neighbor without cause,

    and I not deceive with my lips.

I do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;

    I do not pay the man back for what he has done.”

I passed by the field of a sluggard,

    by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;

    the ground was covered with nettles,

    and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw and considered it;

    I looked and received instruction.

A little sleep, a little slumber,

    a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

    and want like an armed man.