Proverbs 24:18-28

18 lest Yahweh see and [it] be evil in his eyes, and turn his anger away from him.

19 Do not fret because of the evildoers; do not envy the wicked.

20 For there will not be a future for the evil; the lamp of the wicked will die out.

21 Fear Yahweh, my son, and the king; with those who change, do not associate.

22 For suddenly their disaster will come, and the ruin of {both of them}, who knows?

23 These [sayings] are also for the wise: {Partiality} in judgment is not good.

24 Whoever says to the guilty, "You are righteous," the people will curse him; the nations will abhor him.

25 But they who rebuke will have delight, and upon them blessings of goodness will come.

26 He will kiss [the] lips, he who gives an honest answer.

27 Prepare your work in the street and get it ready for yourself in the field; afterward, then you shall build your house.

28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor nor deceive with your lips.

Proverbs 24:18-28 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]. Literally "[the] two of them"
• [b]. Literally "acknowledge faces"
• [c]. Hebrew "and"