Proverbs 24:16-26

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.

22 Without warning your life can turn upside-down, and who knows how or when it might happen?

23 It's wrong, very wrong, to go along with injustice.

24 Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark in the history books,

25 But whoever exposes the wicked will be thanked and rewarded.

26 An honest answer is like a warm hug.

Proverbs 24:16-26 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.