Proverbs 24:17-27

17 Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked;

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be extinguished.

21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that saith to the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.

27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.

Proverbs 24:17-27 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.