Proverbs 24:21-31

21 Have reverence for the Lord, my child, and honor the king. Have nothing to do with people who rebel against them;

22 such people could be ruined in a moment. Do you realize the disaster that God or the king can cause?

23 The wise have also said these things: It is wrong for judges to be prejudiced.

24 If they pronounce a guilty person innocent, they will be cursed and hated by everyone.

25 Judges who punish the guilty, however, will be prosperous and enjoy a good reputation.

26 An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.

27 Don't build your house and establish a home until your fields are ready, and you are sure that you can earn a living.

28 Don't give evidence against others without good reason, or say misleading things about them.

29 Don't say, "I'll do to them just what they did to me! I'll get even with them!"

30 I walked through the fields and vineyards of a lazy, stupid person.

31 They were full of thorn bushes and overgrown with weeds. The stone wall around them had fallen down.

Proverbs 24:21-31 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.