24:1 Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:

24:2 Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.

24:3 By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.

24:4 By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.

24:5 A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.

24:6 Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.

24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he shall not open his mouth.

24:8 He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.

24:9 The thought of a fool is sin: and the detractor is the abomination of men.

24:10 If thou lose hope, being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.

24:11 Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death, forbear not to deliver.

24:12 If 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.

24:13 Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat.

24:14 So 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.

24:15 Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.

24:16 For a just man shall fall seven times, and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.

24:17 When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:

24:18 Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

24:19 Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly.

24:20 For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

24:21 My son, fear the Lord, and the king: and have nothing to do with detractors.

24:22 For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?

24:23 These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.

24:24 They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.

24:25 They that rebuke him shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.

24:26 He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.

24:27 Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.

24:28 Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.

24:29 Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.

24:30 I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:

24:31 And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.

24:32 Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.

24:33 Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest.

24:34 And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.