Proverbs 24

Proverbs · Chapter 24

Proverbs 24:14

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
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.Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul; If thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off.

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
thusכֵּ֤ן׀kenH3651C
right

כֵּן (ken) adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable

know !דְּעֶ֥הde-'EHH3045
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) …

wisdomחָכְמָ֗הchokh-mahH2451
wisdom

חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) 1) wisdom 1a) skill (in war) 1b) wisdom (in administration) 1c) shrewdness, wisdom 1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs) 1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

for self yourלְנַ֫פְשֶׁ֥ךָle-NAF-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

ifאִם־'im-H0518A
if

אִם (im) : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather

you find [it]מָ֭צָאתָMA-tza-taH4672
to find

מָצָא (ma.tsa) 1) to find, attain to 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to find 1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought) 1a1b) to find (what is lost) 1a1c) to meet, encounter 1a1d) to find (a condition) 1a1e) to learn, devise 1a2) to find out 1a2a) to find out 1a2b) to detect 1a2c) to guess 1a3) to come upon, light upon 1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with 1a3b) to hit 1a3c) to befall 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be found 1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered 1b1b) to appear, be recognised 1b1c) to be discovered, be detected 1b1d) to be gained, be secured 1b2) to be, be found 1b2a) to be found in …

and thereוְיֵ֣שׁve-YESHH3426
there is

אִיתַי (i.tay) 1) there is, there are 2) particle denoting existence

[is] a futureאַחֲרִ֑ית'a-cha-RITH0319
end

אַחֲרִית (a.cha.rit) 1) after part, end 1a) end, issue, event 1b) latter time (prophetic for future time) 1c) posterity 1d) last, hindermost Aramaic equivalent: a.cha.rit (אַחֲרִית "latter" H0320)

and hope yourוְ֝תִקְוָתְךָ֗ve-tik-va-te-chaH8615B
hope

תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) 1) hope, expectation 1a) hope 1b) ground of hope 1c) things hoped for, outcome

notלֹ֣אlo'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)

it will be cut offתִכָּרֵֽת׃ פti-ka-RETH3772I
to cut: cut

כָּרַת (ka.rat) : cut/fell 1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut off 1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead 1a2) to cut down 1a3) to hew 1a4) to cut or make a covenant 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cut off 1b2) to be cut down 1b3) to be chewed 1b4) to be cut off, fail 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be cut off 1c2) to be cut down 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cut off 1d2) to cut off, destroy 1d3) to cut down, destroy 1d4) to take away 1d5) to permit to perish 1e) (Hophal) cut off

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