Proverbs 24:12-22

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:

14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.

16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;

18 lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.

19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:

20 for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

Proverbs 24:12-22 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. As 1Sam. 2.3; 'meted,' Isa. 40.12.
• [b]. Or 'know.'
• [c]. Lit. 'evil,' as chs. 17.20; 28.14.
• [d]. Or 'reward.'