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24:1  Don’t envy the evil or desire to be with them,
24:2  for their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.
24:3  A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding;
24:4  by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
24:5  A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength;
24:6  for you should wage war with sound guidance— victory comes with many counselors.
24:7  Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the city gate.
24:8  The one who plots evil will be called a schemer.
24:9  A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to people.
24:10  If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.
24:11  Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.
24:12  If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,” won’t he who weighs hearts consider it? Won’t he who protects your life know? Won’t he repay a person according to his work?
24:13  Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;
24:14  realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.
24:15  Don’t set an ambush, you wicked one, at the camp of the righteous man; don’t destroy his dwelling.
24:16  Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
24:17  Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
24:18  or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.
24:19  Don’t be agitated by evildoers, and don’t envy the wicked.
24:20  For the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
24:21  My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king, and don’t associate with rebels,
24:22  for destruction will come suddenly from them; who knows what distress these two can bring?
24:23  These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
24:24  Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”— peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
24:25  but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them.
24:26  He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
24:27  Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward, build your house.
24:28  Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
24:29  Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”
24:30  I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.
24:31  Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined.
24:32  I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:
24:33  a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,
24:34  and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need, like a bandit.