Proverbs 24:16-26

16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;

18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.

19 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked;

20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those given to change;

22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin those two can bring?

23 These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.

24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him.

25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.

26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

Proverbs 24:16-26 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.