Proverbs 24

1 Do not want what evil men have. Don't long to be with them.

2 In their hearts they plan to hurt others. With their lips they talk about making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built. Through understanding it is made secure.

4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with priceless and beautiful things.

5 A wise man has great power. A man who has knowledge increases his strength.

6 If you go to war, you need guidance. If you want to win, you need many good advisers.

7 Wisdom is too high for anyone who is foolish. He has nothing to say when people meet at the city gate to conduct business.

8 Anyone who thinks up sinful things to do will be known as one who plans evil.

9 Foolish plans are sinful. People hate those who make fun of others.

10 If you grow weak when trouble comes, your strength is very small!

11 Save those who are being led away to death. Hold back those who are about to be killed.

12 Don't say, "But we didn't know anything about this." The One who knows what you are thinking sees it. The One who guards your life knows it. He will pay each person back for what he has done.

13 Eat honey, my child. It is good. Honey from a honeycomb has a sweet taste.

14 I want you to know that wisdom is sweet to you. If you find it, there is hope for you tomorrow. So your hope will not be cut off.

15 Don't hide and wait like a burglar at a godly person's house. Don't rob his home.

16 Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up. But those who are evil are brought down by trouble.

17 Don't be happy when your enemy falls. When he trips, don't let your heart be glad.

18 The LORD will see it, but he won't be pleased. He might turn his anger away from your enemy.

19 Don't be upset because of evil people. Don't long for what sinners have.

20 Tomorrow evil people won't have any hope. The lamps of sinners will be blown out.

21 My son, have respect for the LORD and the king. Don't join those who disobey them.

22 The LORD and the king will suddenly destroy them. Who knows what trouble those two can bring?

More Sayings of Those Who Are Wise

23 Here are more sayings of those who are wise. Taking sides in court is not good.

24 A curse will fall on those who say the guilty are not guilty. Nations will call down curses on them. People will speak against them.

25 But it will go well with those who sentence guilty people. Rich blessings will come to them.

26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Finish your outdoor work. Get your fields ready. After that, build your house.

28 Don't give witness against your neighbor without any reason. Don't use your lips to tell lies.

29 Don't say, "I'll do to him what he did to me. I'll get even with that man for what he did."

30 I went past the field of someone who didn't want to work. I went past the vineyard of a man who didn't have any sense.

31 Thorns had grown up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds. The stone wall had fallen down.

32 I applied my heart to what I observed. I learned a lesson from what I saw.

33 You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest.

34 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.

Proverbs 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

Verses 1-2 Envy not sinners. And let not a desire ever come into thy mind, Oh that I could shake off restraints! ( 3-6 ) . Piety and prudence in outward affairs, both go together to complete a wise man. By knowledge the soul is filled with the graces and comforts of the spirit, those precious and pleasant riches. The spirit is strengthened for the spiritual work and the spiritual warfare, by true wisdom. ( 7-9 ) . A weak man thinks wisdom is too high for him, therefore he will take no pains for it. It is bad to do evil, but worse to devise it. Even the first risings of sin in the heart are sin, and must be repented of. Those that strive to make others hateful, make themselves so. Verse 10 . Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good ( proverbs 24:11-12 ) know that his neighbour is in danger by any unjust proceeding, he is bound to do all in his power to deliver him. And what is it to suffer immortal souls to perish, when our persuasions and ( proverbs 24:13-14 ) quickened to the study of wisdom by considering both the pleasure and the profit of it. All men relish things that are sweet to the palate; but many have no relish for the things that are sweet to the purified soul, and that make us wise unto ( proverbs 24:15-16 ) do, by stumbling at some stone in his path; but gets up, and goes on his way with more care and speed. This is rather to be understood of falls into affliction, than falls into actual sin. ( proverbs 24:17-18 ) ( proverbs 24:19-20 ) ( 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. ( 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. Verse 27 . We must prefer necessaries before conveniences, and not go in debt. ( proverbs 24:28-29 ) ( 30-34 ) . See what a blessing the husbandman's calling is, and what a wilderness this earth would be without it. See what great difference there is in the management even of worldly affairs. Sloth and self-indulgence are the bane of all good. When we see fields overgrown with thorns and thistles, and the fences broken down, we see an emblem of the far more deplorable state of many souls. Every vile affection grows in men's hearts; yet they compose themselves to sleep. Let us show wisdom by doubling our diligence in every good thing.

Chapter Summary

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.