The Proverbs

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 24 -

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

Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.

The meaning of wisdom

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

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

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

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

Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.

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

The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.

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

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

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.

Advice to a son

Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:

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.

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

For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.

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

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

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

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

My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.

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

The sayings of the wise

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

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

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

He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;

for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.

The meaning of wisdom

Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,

for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.

Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.

The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.

Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?

Advice to a son

My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;

so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.

Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;

for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,

lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;

for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,

for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?

The sayings of the wise

These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.

He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—

but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.

Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.

Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,

so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.