Proverbs 24

1 Do not envy evil people or wish you were with them,

2 because their minds plot violence, and their lips talk trouble.

3 With wisdom a house is built. With understanding it is established.

4 With knowledge its rooms are filled with every kind of riches, both precious and pleasant.

5 A strong man knows how to use his strength, but a person with knowledge is even more powerful.

6 After all, with the right strategy you can wage war, and with many advisers there is victory.

7 Matters of wisdom are beyond the grasp of a stubborn fool. At the city gate he does not open his mouth.

8 Whoever plans to do evil will be known as a schemer.

9 Foolish scheming is sinful, and a mocker is disgusting to everyone.

10 If you faint in a crisis, you are weak.

11 Rescue captives condemned to death, and spare those staggering toward their slaughter.

12 When you say, "We didn't know this," won't the one who weighs hearts take note of it? Won't the one who guards your soul know it? Won't he pay back people for what they do?

13 Eat honey, my son, because it is good. Honey that flows from the honeycomb tastes sweet.

14 The knowledge of wisdom is like that for your soul. If you find it, then there is a future, and your hope will never be cut off.

15 You wicked one, do not lie in ambush at the home of a righteous person. Do not rob his house.

16 A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again. However, in a disaster wicked people fall.

17 Do not be happy when your enemy falls, and do not feel glad when he stumbles.

18 The LORD will see it, he won't like it, and he will turn his anger away from that person.

19 Do not get overly upset with evildoers. Do not envy wicked people,

20 because an evil person has no future, and the lamps of wicked people will be snuffed out.

21 Fear the LORD, my son. Fear the king as well. Do not associate with those who always insist upon change,

22 because disaster will come to them suddenly. Who knows what misery both may bring?

23 These also are the sayings of wise people: Showing partiality as a judge is not good.

24 Whoever says to a guilty person, "You are innocent," will be cursed by people and condemned by nations.

25 But people will be pleased with those who convict a guilty person, and a great blessing will come to them.

26 Giving a straight answer is [like] a kiss on the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside, and get things ready for yourself in the field. Afterwards, build your house.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without a reason, and do not deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say, "I'll treat him as he treated me. I'll pay him back for what he has done to me."

30 I passed by a lazy person's field, the vineyard belonging to a person without sense.

31 I saw that it was all overgrown with thistles. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone fence was torn down.

32 When I observed [this], I took it to heart. I saw it and learned my lesson.

33 "Just a little sleep, just a little slumber, just a little nap."

34 Then your poverty will come like a drifter, and your need will come like a bandit.

Proverbs 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

Verses 1-2 Envy not sinners. And let not a desire ever come into thy mind, Oh that I could shake off restraints! ( 3-6 ) . Piety and prudence in outward affairs, both go together to complete a wise man. By knowledge the soul is filled with the graces and comforts of the spirit, those precious and pleasant riches. The spirit is strengthened for the spiritual work and the spiritual warfare, by true wisdom. ( 7-9 ) . A weak man thinks wisdom is too high for him, therefore he will take no pains for it. It is bad to do evil, but worse to devise it. Even the first risings of sin in the heart are sin, and must be repented of. Those that strive to make others hateful, make themselves so. Verse 10 . Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good ( proverbs 24:11-12 ) know that his neighbour is in danger by any unjust proceeding, he is bound to do all in his power to deliver him. And what is it to suffer immortal souls to perish, when our persuasions and ( proverbs 24:13-14 ) quickened to the study of wisdom by considering both the pleasure and the profit of it. All men relish things that are sweet to the palate; but many have no relish for the things that are sweet to the purified soul, and that make us wise unto ( proverbs 24:15-16 ) do, by stumbling at some stone in his path; but gets up, and goes on his way with more care and speed. This is rather to be understood of falls into affliction, than falls into actual sin. ( proverbs 24:17-18 ) ( proverbs 24:19-20 ) ( proverbs 24:21-22 ) The godly in the land, will be quiet in the land. There may be cause to change for the better, but have nothing to do with them that are given change. ( 23-26 ) . The wisdom God giveth, renders a man fit for his station. Every one who finds the benefit of the right answer, will be attached to him that gave it. Verse 27 . We must prefer necessaries before conveniences, and not go in debt. ( proverbs 24:28-29 ) ( 30-34 ) . See what a blessing the husbandman's calling is, and what a wilderness this earth would be without it. See what great difference there is in the management even of worldly affairs. Sloth and self-indulgence are the bane of all good. When we see fields overgrown with thorns and thistles, and the fences broken down, we see an emblem of the far more deplorable state of many souls. Every vile affection grows in men's hearts; yet they compose themselves to sleep. Let us show wisdom by doubling our diligence in every good thing.

Chapter Summary

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.