Proverbs 24
24
Wisdom’s Warning
1Don’t envy the wealth of the wicked or crave their company.
2For they’re obsessed with causing trouble
and their conversations are corrupt.
3Wise people are builders # 24:3 Or “A house is built by wisdom.” The house is more than a structure with roof and a floor. It becomes a metaphor for families, churches, businesses, and enterprises. —
they build families, businesses, communities.
And through intelligence and insight
their enterprises are established and endure.
4Because of their skilled leadership,
the hearts # 24:4 Or “inner chambers.” of people are filled with the treasures of wisdom
and the pleasures of spiritual wealth.
5Wisdom can make anyone into a mighty warrior, # 24:5 Or “Wisdom makes anyone into a hero.” The Aramaic and the Septuagint read “It’s better to be wise than to be strong.”
and revelation-knowledge increases strength.
6Wise strategy is necessary to wage war,
and with many astute advisers
you’ll see the path to victory more clearly.
7Wisdom is a treasure too lofty for a quarreling fool # 24:7 The Hebrew is actually “Wisdom is coral to a fool.” That is, it is unattainable, deep, and hidden. —
he’ll have nothing to say when leaders gather together.
8There is one who makes plans to do evil—
Master Schemer is his name.
9If you plan to do evil, it’s as wrong as doing it.
And everyone detests a troublemaker.
10If you faint when under pressure,
you have need of courage. # 24:10 Or “your strength is limited.” Our weakness often becomes an excuse to quit, but strength and courage come as the result of faithfulness under pressure. Some interpret this to mean “If you fail to help others in their time of need, you will grow too weak to help yourself.”
11Go and rescue the perishing! Be their savior!
Why would you stand back and watch them stagger to their death?
12And why would you say, “But it’s none of my business”?
The one who knows you completely and judges your every motive
is also the keeper of souls—and not just yours!
He sees through your excuses and holds you responsible
for failing to help those whose lives are threatened.
13Revelation-knowledge is a delicacy,
sweet like flowing honey that melts in your mouth.
Eat as much of it as you can, my friend!
14For then you will perceive what is true wisdom,
your future will be bright, # 24:14 The Septuagint is “your death will be good.”
and this hope living within you will never disappoint you.
15Listen up, you wicked, irreverent ones—
don’t harass the lovers of God # 24:15 Or “the righteous.”
and don’t invade their resting place.
16For the lovers of God may suffer adversity
and stumble seven times,
but they will continue to rise over and over again.
But the unrighteous are brought down by just one calamity
and will never be able to rise again. # 24:16 Implied in the text, as it completes the parallelism.
17Never gloat when your enemy meets disaster,
and don’t be quick to rejoice if he falls.
18For the Lord, who sees your heart,
will be displeased with you and will pity your foe.
19Don’t be angrily offended over evildoers or be agitated by them. # 24:19 The Septuagint is “Don’t rejoice with those who do evil or be jealous of them.”
20For the wicked have no life and no future—
their light of life will die out. # 24:20 Not only will they die out, but the implication is they will also have no posterity.
21My child, stand in awe of Yahweh!
Give counsel to others,
but don’t mingle with those who are rebellious.
22For sudden destruction will fall upon them
and their lives will be ruined in a moment.
And who knows what retribution they will face! # 24:22 Verses 21 and 22 are translated from the Aramaic.
Revelation from the Wise
23Those enlightened with wisdom have spoken these proverbs:
Judgment must be impartial,
for it is always wrong to be swayed by a person’s status.
24If you say to the guilty, “You are innocent,”
the nation will curse you and the people will revile you.
25But when you convict the guilty,
the people will thank you and reward you with favor.
26Speaking honestly is a sign of true friendship. # 24:26 The Hebrew is literally “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.” In the culture of the day, kissing was a sign of authentic friendship and a mark of relationship, which was often expressed in public among friends.
27Go ahead, build your career and give yourself to your work.
But if you put me first, you’ll see your family built up! # 24:27 As translated from the Septuagint.
28Why would you be a false accuser and slander with your words?
29Don’t ever spitefully say, “I’ll get even with him!
I’ll do to him what he did to me!”
30-31One day I passed by the field of a lazy man,
and I noticed the vineyards of a slacker.
I observed nothing but thorns, weeds, and broken-down walls.
32So I considered their lack of wisdom,
and I pondered the lessons I could learn from this:
33-34Professional work habits prevent poverty from becoming
your permanent business partner. And:
If you put off until tomorrow the work you could do today,
tomorrow never seems to come.
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Proverbs 24: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationProverbs 24
24
Saying 20
1Do not envy the wicked,
do not desire their company;
2for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.
Saying 21
3By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
4through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Saying 22
5The wise prevail through great power,
and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
6Surely you need guidance to wage war,
and victory is won through many advisers.
Saying 23
7Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
Saying 24
8Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.
9The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.
Saying 25
10If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength!
11Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
12If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Saying 26
13Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 27
15Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;
16for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Saying 28
17Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
18or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.
Saying 29
19Do not fret because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,
20for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
Saying 30
21Fear the Lord and the king, my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,
22for those two will send sudden destruction on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:
24Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.
26An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
27Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.
28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—
would you use your lips to mislead?
29Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”
30I went past the field of a sluggard,
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
32I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
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