17. Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;don’t be happy when they stumble.
18. For the lord will be displeased with youand 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 comefrom 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.