Proverbs 24:7-17

7 Wisdom is 1too high for a fool; in 2the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Whoever 3plans to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 4The devising[a] of folly is sin, and 5the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
10 If you 6faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
11 7Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," 8does not he who 9weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who 10keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man 11according to his work?
13 My son, 12eat honey, for it is good, and 13the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be 14a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 15Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home;
16 16for the righteous falls 17seven times and rises again, but 18the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
17 19Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

Proverbs 24:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 12

This chapter relates Rehoboam's going to Shechem to be made king, and Jeroboam's return from Egypt, 1Ki 12:1,2, the people's request to Rehoboam to be eased of their taxes, as the condition of making him king, 1Ki 12:3,4, his answer to them, after three days, having had the advice both of the old and young men, which latter he followed, and gave in a rough answer, 1Ki 12:5-15, upon which ten tribes revolted from him, and two abode by him, 1Ki 12:16-20, wherefore he meditated a war against the ten tribes, but was forbid by the Lord to engage in it, 1Ki 12:21-24 and Jeroboam, in order to establish his kingdom, and preserve the people from a revolt to the house of David, because of the temple worship at Jerusalem, devised a scheme of idolatrous worship in his own territories, 1Ki 12:25-33.

Cross References 19

  • 1. [Proverbs 14:6]
  • 2. See Job 5:4
  • 3. Romans 1:30
  • 4. [Proverbs 21:27]
  • 5. See Psalms 1:1
  • 6. [Hebrews 12:3]
  • 7. Psalms 82:4; [Isaiah 58:6, 7]
  • 8. [Ecclesiastes 5:8]
  • 9. Proverbs 16:2; See 1 Samuel 16:7
  • 10. [Psalms 91:11]
  • 11. See Job 34:11
  • 12. [Psalms 19:10; Psalms 119:103; Song of Songs 5:1; Isaiah 7:15]
  • 13. Song of Songs 4:11
  • 14. See Proverbs 23:18
  • 15. Psalms 10:9, 10
  • 16. See Psalms 37:24
  • 17. See Job 5:19
  • 18. Proverbs 14:32
  • 19. Psalms 35:15, 19; [Micah 7:8]; See Proverbs 17:5

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.