Proverbs 24:1-21

1 Don't envy bad people; don't even want to be around them.
2 All they think about is causing a disturbance; all they talk about is making trouble.
3 It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;
4 It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.
5 It's better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day.
6 Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel.
7 Wise conversation is way over the head of fools; in a serious discussion they haven't a clue.
8 The person who's always cooking up some evil soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues.
9 Fools incubate sin; cynics desecrate beauty. Rescue the Perishing
10 If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place.
11 Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help.
12 If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business," will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know - Someone not impressed with weak excuses.
13 Eat honey, dear child - it's good for you - and delicacies that melt in your mouth.
14 Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul - Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock.
15 Don't interfere with good people's lives; don't try to get the best of them.
16 No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don't stay down long; Soon they're up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.
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.

Proverbs 24:1-21 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.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.