HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 949
PR OVER B S 24
page 579
30
31
32
33
34
35
It is the one who spends long hours in the
taverns,
trying out new drinks.
Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,
how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly
it goes down.
For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;
it stings like a viper.
You will see hallucinations,
and you will say crazy things.
You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,
clinging to a swaying mast.
And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t
feel it.
I didn’t even know it when they beat
me up.
When will I wake up
so I can look for another drink?”
24
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Don’t envy evil people
or desire their company.
For their hearts plot violence,
and their words always stir up trouble.
1
A house is built by wisdom
and becomes strong through good sense.
Through knowledge its rooms are filled
with all sorts of precious riches and
valuables.
The wise are mightier than the strong,*
and those with knowledge grow stronger
and stronger.
So don’t go to war without wise guidance;
victory depends on having many
advisers.
Wisdom is too lofty for fools.
Among leaders at the city gate, they have
nothing to say.
A person who plans evil
will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
The schemes of a fool are sinful;
everyone detests a mocker.
14
In the same way, wisdom is sweet to
your soul.
If you find it, you will have a bright
future,
and your hopes will not be cut short.
15
Don’t wait in ambush at the home of
the godly,
and don’t raid the house where the
godly live.
The godly may trip seven times, but they
will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow
the wicked.
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
don’t be happy when they stumble.
For the Lord will be displeased with you
and will turn his anger away from them.
Don’t fret because of evildoers;
don’t envy the wicked.
For evil people have no future;
the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
My child, fear the Lord and the king.
Don’t associate with rebels,
for disaster will hit them suddenly.
Who knows what punishment will come
from the Lord and the king?
More Sayings of the Wise
23 Here are some further sayings of the wise:
24
25
It is wrong to show favoritism when passing
judgment.
A judge who says to the wicked, “You are
innocent,”
will be cursed by many people and
denounced by the nations.
But it will go well for those who convict
the guilty;
rich blessings will be showered on them.
26
An honest answer
is like a kiss of friendship.
10
If you fail under pressure,
your strength is too small.
27
Do your planning and prepare your fields
before building your house.
11
Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced
to die;
save them as they stagger to their death.
Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look,
we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and
he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions
deserve.
28
Don’t testify against your neighbors without
cause;
don’t lie about them.
And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for
what they’ve done to me!
I’ll get even with them!”
12
13
29
30
31
My child,* eat honey, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
24:5 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads A wise man is strength.
24:13 Hebrew My son; also in 24:21.
32
I walked by the field of a lazy person,
the vineyard of one with no common
sense.
I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.
It was covered with weeds,
and its walls were broken down.
Then, as I looked and thought about it,
I learned this lesson: