17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, 18 or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

19 Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, 20 for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials, 22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?

23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good: 24 Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. 25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them. 26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause- would you use your lips to mislead? 29 Do not say, "I'll do to them as they have done to me; I'll pay them back for what they did."

Other Translations of Proverbs 24:17-29

King James Version

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 Fret Fret...: or, Keep not company with the wicked not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle candle: or, lamp 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 a good...: Heb. a blessing of 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.

English Standard Version

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.

19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, 20 for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, 22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

23 These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good. 24 Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, 25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. 26 Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

28 Be not a witness 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 pay the man back for what he has done."

The Message

17 Don't laugh when your enemy falls; don't crow over his collapse. 18 God might see, and become very provoked, and then take pity on his plight.

19 Don't bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. 20 Those people have no future at all; they're headed down a dead-end street.

21 Fear God, dear child - respect your leaders; don't be defiant or mutinous. 22 Without warning your life can turn upside-down, and who knows how or when it might happen?

23 It's wrong, very wrong, to go along with injustice. 24 Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark in the history books, 25 But whoever exposes the wicked will be thanked and rewarded. 26 An honest answer is like a warm hug.

27 First plant your fields; then build your barn.

28 Don't talk about your neighbors behind their backs - no slander or gossip, please. 29 Don't say to anyone, "I'll get back at you for what you did to me. I'll make you pay for what you did!"

New King James Version

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.

19 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked; 20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those given to change; 22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin those two can bring?

23 These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. 24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him. 25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, And a good blessing will come upon them. 26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

27 Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips? 29 Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

New Living Translation

17 Don't rejoice when your enemies fall; don't be happy when they stumble. 18 For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.

19 Don't fret because of evildoers; don't envy the wicked. 20 For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don't associate with rebels, 22 for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?

23 Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment. 24 A judge who says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations. 25 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.

27 Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.

28 Don't testify against your neighbors without cause; don't lie about them. 29 And don't say, "Now I can pay them back for what they've done to me! I'll get even with them!"

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 24:17-29

Commentary on Proverbs 24:17-18

(Read Proverbs 24:17-18)

The pleasure we are apt to take in the troubles of an enemy is forbidden.

Commentary on Proverbs 24:19-20

(Read Proverbs 24:19-20)

Envy not the wicked their prosperity; be sure there is no true happiness in it.

Commentary on Proverbs 24:21-22

(Read Proverbs 24:21-22)

The godly in the land, will be quiet in the land. There may be cause to change for the better, but have nothing to do with them that are given change.

Commentary on Proverbs 24:23-26

(Read Proverbs 24:23-26)

The wisdom God giveth, renders a man fit for his station. Every one who finds the benefit of the right answer, will be attached to him that gave it.

Commentary on Proverbs 24:27

(Read Proverbs 24:27)

We must prefer necessaries before conveniences, and not go in debt.

Commentary on Proverbs 24:28-29

(Read Proverbs 24:28-29)

There are three defaults in a witness pointed out.