Proverbs 24:19-34

New American Standard Bible

^19 (A)Do not get upset because of evildoers
Or be ^(B)envious of the wicked;
²⁰ For ^(C)there will be no ^[a](D)future for the evil person;
The ^(E)lamp of the wicked will be put out.

²¹ My son, ^[b](F)fear the Lord and the king;
Do not get involved with those ^[c]of high rank,
²² For their ^(G)disaster will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that can come from both of them?

²³ These also are ^(H)sayings of the wise:
To ^[d](I)show partiality in judgment is not good.
²⁴ One ^(J)who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
^(K)Peoples will curse him, nations will scold him;
²⁵ But ^(L)for those who rebuke the wicked there will be delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
²⁶ One who gives ^[e]a right answer
Kisses the lips.

²⁷ Prepare your work outside,
And ^(M)make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterward, then, build your house.

²⁸ Do not be a ^(N)witness against your neighbor for no reason,
And ^(O)do not deceive with your lips.
^29 (P)Do not say, “I shall do the same to him as he has done to me;
I will ^[f]repay the person according to his work.”

³⁰ I passed by the field of ^[g]a lazy one,
And by the vineyard of a person ^(Q)lacking ^[h]sense,
³¹ And behold, it was completely ^(R)overgrown with weeds;
Its surface was covered with ^(S)weeds,
And its stone ^(T)wall was broken down.
³² When I saw, I ^[i]reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.
³³ “^(U)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,”
³⁴ Then your poverty will come like ^[j]a drifter,
And your need like ^[k]an armed man.