Proverbs 24
Brenton 1851 translation with original translator material, eBible HTML edition
22r A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way.
22s A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids.
22t A 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.
23 And this thing I say to you that are wise for you to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
25 But they that reprove him shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them;
26 and men will kiss lips that answer well.
27 Prepare thy works for thy going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house.
28 Be not a false witness against thy fellow citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips.
29 Say 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.
30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31 If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; ‡and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.
32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33 The sluggard says, I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across my breast.
34 But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier.
35 The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough.
36 The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough.
37 The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it.
38 Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not:
39 the 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.
40 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss.
41 By three things the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear:
42 if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food;
43 or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man.
44 And there are four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise:
45 the ants which are weak, and yet prepare their food in summer;
46 the rabbits also are a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks.
47 The locusts have no king, and yet march orderly at one command.
48 And the eft, which supports itself by its hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings.
49 And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely.
50 A lion's whelp, stronger than all other beasts, which turns not away, nor fears any beast;
51 and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and a goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation.
52 If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced.
53 Milk 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.
54 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed.
55 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows?
56 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel.
57 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:
58 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly.
59 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain: