VERSE STUDY • KJV

Proverbs 24:23-34

²³ These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment. ²⁴ He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: ²⁵ But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. ²⁶ [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer. ²⁷ Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. ²⁸ Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips. ²⁹ Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. ³⁰ I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹ And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. ³² Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction. ³³ [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ³⁴ So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

²³ These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment. ²⁴ He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: ²⁵ But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. ²⁶ [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer. ²⁷ Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. ²⁸ Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips. ²⁹ Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. ³⁰ I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹ And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. ³² Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction. ³³ [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: ³⁴ So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

²³ These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good. ²⁴ Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him; ²⁵ but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them. ²⁶ An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips. ²⁷ Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house. ²⁸ Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. ²⁹ Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.” ³⁰ I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. ³¹ Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down. ³² I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction: ³³ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, ³⁴ and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

WEB World English Bible

²³ These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good. ²⁴ He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous;” peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him— ²⁵ but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them. ²⁶ An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. ²⁷ Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house. ²⁸ Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips. ²⁹ Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.” ³⁰ I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹ Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. ³² Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction: ³³ a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; ³⁴ so your poverty will come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.

ASV American Standard Version

²³ These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good. ²⁴ He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him; ²⁵ But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them. ²⁶ He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer. ²⁷ Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house. ²⁸ Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips. ²⁹ Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work. ³⁰ I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹ And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down. ³² Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction: ³³ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep; ³⁴ So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

²³ These also are for the wise:—To discern faces in judgment is not good. ²⁴ Whoso is saying to the wicked, ‘Thou art righteous,’ Peoples execrate him—nations abhor him. ²⁵ And to those reproving it is pleasant, And on them cometh a good blessing. ²⁶ Lips he kisseth who is returning straightforward words. ²⁷ Prepare in an out-place thy work, And make it ready in the field—go afterwards, Then thou hast built thy house. ²⁸ Be not a witness for nought against thy neighbour, Or thou hast enticed with thy lips. ²⁹ Say not, ‘As he did to me, so I do to him, I render to each according to his work.’ ³⁰ Near the field of a slothful man I passed by, And near the vineyard of a man lacking heart. ³¹ And lo, it hath gone up—all of it—thorns! Covered its face have nettles, And its stone wall hath been broken down. ³² And I see—I—I do set my heart, I have seen—I have received instruction, ³³ A little sleep—a little slumber—A little folding of the hands to lie down. ³⁴ And thy poverty hath come as a traveller, And thy want as an armed man!

Surrounding context — Proverbs 24

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.

27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32 Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction.

33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34 So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

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