Proverbs 24:11-21

11 Rescue those who are led away to the death and those who stagger to the slaughter. If you hold back,

12 if you say, "Look, we do not know this," does not he who weighs hearts perceive [it]? And he who keeps your soul, he knows and will repay humankind according to his deeds.

13 My child, eat honey, for [it is] good, and the dripping of the honeycomb [is] sweet to your taste.

14 Thus know wisdom for [the sake of] your soul, if you find [it], then there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait [like] an outlaw against the home of the righteous; do not do violence [to] his dwelling place.

16 For seven [times] the righteous will fall, but he will rise, but the wicked will be overthrown by calamity.

17 While your enemies are falling, do not rejoice; when he trips himself, may your heart not be glad

18 lest Yahweh see and [it] be evil in his eyes, and turn his anger away from him.

19 Do not fret because of the evildoers; do not envy the wicked.

20 For there will not be a future for the evil; the lamp of the wicked will die out.

21 Fear Yahweh, my son, and the king; with those who change, do not associate.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "life," or "inner self"
• [b]. Or "life," or "inner self"
• [c]. Or "mind"