Proverbs 24:11-21

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,

Proverbs 24:11-21 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.