Proverbs 24:30-34

30 One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones, and then passed the vineyard of a lout;
31 They were overgrown with weeds, thick with thistles, all the fences broken down.
32 I took a long look and pondered what I saw; the fields preached me a sermon and I listened:
33 "A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy - do you know what comes next?
34 Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, with poverty as your permanent houseguest!"

Proverbs 24:30-34 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.