Proverbs 24:10-20

10 If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.

11 Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter.

12 If you say, "But we didn't know about this," won't He who weighs hearts consider it?^[a] Won't He who protects your life know? Won't He repay a person according to his work?^[b]

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;

14 realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.^[c]

15 Don't set an ambush, wicked man, at the camp^[d] of the righteous man; don't destroy his dwelling.

16 Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.^[e]

17 Don't gloat when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

18 or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.

19 Don't worry because of evildoers, and don't envy the wicked.^[f]

20 For the evil have no future;^[g] the lamp of the wicked will be put out.^[h]

Proverbs 24:10-20 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 21:2; Ps 44:21
• [b]. Pr 24:29
• [c]. Pr 10:28; 23:18; Jr 29:11
• [d]. A rural encampment or home not under the protection of a city
• [e]. Pr 29:16
• [f]. Pr 23:17; 24:1; Ps 37:1; 73
• [g]. Pr 14:11; 16:25; Ps 37:38
• [h]. Pr 13:9; 20:20; Jb 21:17