# Proverbs 24 (New King James Version)
Do Not Envy Evil Men

##### Chapter 24
###### 1 Do not be envious of evil men,  
Nor desire to be with them;  

###### 2 For their heart devises violence,  
And their lips talk of troublemaking.

###### 3 Through wisdom a house is built,  
And by understanding it is established;  

###### 4 By knowledge the rooms are filled  
With all precious and pleasant riches.

###### 5 A wise man _is_ strong,  
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;  

###### 6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,  
And in a multitude of counselors _there is_ safety.

###### 7 Wisdom _is_ too lofty for a fool;  
He does not open his mouth in the gate.

###### 8 He who plots to do evil  
Will be called a schemer.  

###### 9 The devising of foolishness _is_ sin,  
And the scoffer _is_ an abomination to men.

###### 10 _If_ you faint in the day of adversity,  
Your strength _is_ small.

###### 11 Deliver _those who_ are drawn toward death,  
And hold back _those_ stumbling to the slaughter.  

###### 12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this,"  
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider _it?_  
He who keeps your soul, does He _not_ know _it?_  
And will He _not_ render to _each_ man according to his deeds?

###### 13 My son, eat honey because _it is_ good,  
And the honeycomb _which is_ sweet to your taste;  

###### 14 So _shall_ the knowledge of wisdom _be_ to your soul;  
If you have found _it,_ there is a prospect,  
And your hope will not be cut off.

###### 15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked _man,_ against the dwelling of the righteous;  
Do not plunder his resting place;  

###### 16 For a righteous _man_ may fall seven times  
And rise again,  
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

###### 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,  
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;  

###### 18 Lest the Lord see _it,_ and it displease Him,  
And He turn away His wrath from him.

###### 19 Do not fret because of evildoers,  
Nor be envious of the wicked;  

###### 20 For there will be no prospect for the evil _man;_  
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

###### 21 My son, fear the Lord and the king;  
Do not associate with those given to change;  

###### 22 For their calamity will rise suddenly,  
And who knows the ruin those two can bring?Further Sayings of the Wise

###### 23 These _things_ also _belong_ to the wise:
_It is_ not good to show partiality in judgment.  

###### 24 He who says to the wicked, "You _are_ righteous,"  
Him the people will curse;  
Nations will abhor him.  

###### 25 But those who rebuke _the wicked_ will have delight,  
And a good blessing will come upon them.

###### 26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

###### 27 Prepare your outside work,  
Make it fit for yourself in the field;  
And afterward build your house.

###### 28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,  
For would you deceive with your lips?  

###### 29 Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me;  
I will render to the man according to his work."

###### 30 I went by the field of the lazy _man_,  
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;  

###### 31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;  
Its surface was covered with nettles;  
Its stone wall was broken down.  

###### 32 When I saw _it,_ I considered _it_ well;  
I looked on _it and_ received instruction:  

###### 33 A little sleep, a little slumber,  
A little folding of the hands to rest;  

###### 34 So shall your poverty come _like_ a prowler,  
And your need like an armed man.