Proverbs 24:14-24

14 you may be sure that wisdom is good for the soul. Get wisdom and you have a bright future.

15 Don't be like the wicked who scheme to rob honest people or to take away their homes.

16 No matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again; but disaster destroys the wicked.

17 Don't be glad when your enemies meet disaster, and don't rejoice when they stumble.

18 The Lord will know if you are gloating, and he will not like it; and then maybe he won't punish them.

19 Don't let evil people worry you; don't be envious of them.

20 A wicked person has no future - nothing to look forward to.

21 Have reverence for the Lord, my child, and honor the king. Have nothing to do with people who rebel against them;

22 such people could be ruined in a moment. Do you realize the disaster that God or the king can cause?

23 The wise have also said these things: It is wrong for judges to be prejudiced.

24 If they pronounce a guilty person innocent, they will be cursed and hated by everyone.

Proverbs 24:14-24 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.