Proverbs 24

Thomsonfor their hearts study falsehood; and their lips utter mischief.

BrentonFor their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs.

ThomsonBy wisdom a house is built; and by understanding it is established.

BrentonA house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding.

ThomsonBy knowledge chambers are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

BrentonBy discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth.

ThomsonBetter is a wise man than one who is strong: and the man who hath understanding, than he who hath a large cultivated field.

BrentonA wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.

ThomsonBy strategic guidance war is conducted; and rescue is near a heart instructed by counsel.

BrentonWar is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor.

Brentonbut deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed men.

ThomsonDeath meeteth the uninstructed, and a fool dieth by sins. In a man who is self-willed, arrogant and boastful there is impurity:

BrentonThe fool also dies in sins; and uncleanness attaches to a pestilent man.

Thomsonin an evil day and a day of adversity, he will be stained deeper and deeper, until he utterly faint.

BrentonHe shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.

ThomsonIf thou shouldst say, I do not know this man: know that the Lord knoweth the hearts of all, and that He, Who gave breath to all, knoweth all things and will render to everyone according to his works.

BrentonBut if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.

ThomsonMy son, eat honey (for a honeycomb is good) that thy palate may be sweetened.

BrentonMy son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened.

ThomsonIn like manner let thy soul taste wisdom; for if thou find it, thy end will be good and hope will not forsake thee.

BrentonThus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee.

ThomsonFor a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again; but in calamities the wicked shall be without strength.

BrentonFor a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise again: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.

ThomsonIf thine enemy fall, rejoice not over him; nor be elated at his stumbling:

BrentonIf thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow.

Thomsonfor the Lord will see and it will displease him, and He will turn away His wrath from him.

BrentonFor the Lord will see it, and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.

ThomsonRejoice not over evil-doers nor envy sinners.

BrentonRejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.

ThomsonFor the posterity of an evil one cannot continue; and the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished.

BrentonFor the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.

ThomsonFor they can suddenly punish the wicked; and their punishments who can know?
A son who keepeth the word shall be far from destruction; for he hath received it to effect.
Let no falsehood be uttered from the mouth of a king, and from his tongue let no falsehood proceed.
The tongue of a king is a sword and not flesh; whosoever is delivered up to it shall be destroyed. For if his wrath be sharpened, it killeth men with thongs; and devoureth the bones of men, and like a flame burneth them up, so that they cannot be eaten [even] by young eagles. Respect my words, son; receive them and reform.

BrentonFor they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance inflicted by both?

BrentonLet no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue.

BrentonThe king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to it shall be destroyed:

Brentonfor if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords,

Brentonand devours men's bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not even fit to be eaten by the young eagles.

BrentonMy son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.] These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease.

BrentonGod has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy.

BrentonWho has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?

BrentonFor all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him.

BrentonAdd not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar.

BrentonRemove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth or poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient:

Brentonlest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear vainly by the name of God.

BrentonA wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother.

BrentonA wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.

BrentonA wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.

BrentonA wicked generation have swords for teeth and jaw-teeth as knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men.

ThomsonHe who saith of the wicked, He is not guilty, shall be cursed by the tribes and hateful to the nations:

BrentonHe that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.

Thomsonbut they who reprove shall appear better; and upon them a blessing shall come.

BrentonBut they that reprove him shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;

ThomsonLips will kiss the things which convey good words.

Brentonand men will kiss lips that answer well.

ThomsonPrepare thy works for the time of going out, and be in complete preparation for the field and come after me; then thou shalt build thyself a house.

BrentonPrepare thy works for thy going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.

ThomsonBe not a false witness against thy fellow citizen, nor overstate with thy lips.

BrentonBe not a false witness against thy fellow citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips.

ThomsonDo not say: I will use him as he hath used me, and punish him for the injuries he hath done me.

BrentonSay not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.

ThomsonA fool is like a field, and a man void of understanding, like a vineyard;

BrentonA foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.

Thomsonif thou lettest them alone, they will be overrun with weeds and grass, and become useless, and their stone fences will be thrown down.

BrentonIf thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.

Thomson’I have at length repented and looked about, with a view to choose instruction.

BrentonAfterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.

ThomsonI am dozing a little—just taking a short nap—just infolding my breast with my hands.’

BrentonThe sluggard says, I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across my breast.

ThomsonIf such indeed be thy conduct; poverty will come upon thee like a traveller and want like a swift courier.

BrentonBut if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier.

BrentonThe grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.

BrentonMoreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:

Brentonthe track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth.

BrentonSuch is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.

Brentonif a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;

Brentonor if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.

Brentonthe ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer;

Brentonthe rabbits also are a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.

BrentonThe locusts have no king, and yet march orderly at one command.

BrentonAnd the eft, which supports itself by its hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.

BrentonA lion's whelp, stronger than all other beasts, which turns not away, nor fears any beast;

Brentonand a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and a goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.

BrentonMilk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wring one's nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes.

BrentonGive not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.

BrentonPrinces are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

Brentonlest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.

BrentonGive strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain:

Brentonthat they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more.

BrentonOpen thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly.

BrentonOpen thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.