Proverbs 24

1 Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.

2 For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.

3 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.

4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

5 The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.

6 So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.

8 A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.

9 The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.

10 If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.

12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.

14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.

15 Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.

16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.

18 For the LORD will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.

19 Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked.

20 For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 My child, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,

22 for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the LORD and the king?

23 Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.

24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.

25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.

26 An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.

27 Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.

28 Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them.

29 And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”

30 I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.

31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.

32 Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:

33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—

34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. As in Greek version; Hebrew reads A wise man is strength.
• [b]. Hebrew My son; also in 24:21 .

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.