Proverbs 24:5-15

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.

Proverbs 24:5-15 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.