Proverbs 24

Proverbs · Chapter 24

Proverbs 24:12

1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this; Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
ifכִּֽי־ki-H3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

you will sayתֹאמַ֗רto-MARH0559
to say

אָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

here!הֵן֮henH2005
look!

הֵן (hen) interj 1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part 2) if Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)

notלֹא־lo'-H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

we knewיָדַ֪עְנ֫וּya-DA'-NUH3045
to know

יָדַע (ya.da) 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) …

thisזֶ֥הzehH2088
that

דִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because

¿ notהֲֽלֹא־halo'-H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

[one who] weighsתֹ֘כֵ֤ןto-KHENH8505
to measure

תָּכַן (ta.khan) 1) to regulate, measure, estimate, ponder, balance, make even, level, weigh, be equal, be weighed out, test, prove 1a) (Qal) estimate (participle) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be estimated 1b2) to be made even or right, be adjusted to the standard 1c) (Piel) to weigh out, mete out 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be weighed out, be measured out 1d2) measured out (participle)

heartsלִבּ֨וֹת׀li-BOTH3826
heart

לִבָּה (lib.bah) heart

heהֽוּא־hu'-H1931
he/she/it

הוּא (hu) pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)

does he perceiveיָבִ֗יןya-VINH0995
to understand

בִּין (bin) 1) to discern, understand, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to perceive, discern 1a2) to understand, know (with the mind) 1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider 1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding 1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to understand 1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach 1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently 1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct 2) (TWOT) prudent, regard

and [one who] guardsוְנֹצֵ֣רve-no-TZERH5341
to watch

נָצַר (na.tsar) 1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to watch, guard, keep 1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers 1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity 1a4) to guard, keep secret 1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded 1a6) watchman (participle)

life yourנַ֭פְשְׁךָNAF-she-khaH5315G
soul

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain

heה֣וּאhu'H1931
he/she/it

הוּא (hu) pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)

does he know?יֵדָ֑עye-DA'H3045
to know

יָדַע (ya.da) 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) …

and will he repay?וְהֵשִׁ֖יבve-he-SHIVH7725K
to return: return

שׁוּב (shuv) : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) …

to a personלְאָדָ֣םle-'a-DAMH0120G
man

אָדָם (a.dam) 1) man, mankind 1a) man, human being 1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT) 1c) Adam, first man 1d) city in Jordan valley

according to work hisכְּפָעֳלֽוֹ׃ke-fo-'o-LOH6467
work

פֹּ֫עַל (po.al) 1) work, deed, doing 1a) deed, thing done 1b) work, thing made 1c) wages of work 1d) acquisition (of treasure)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.