Proverbs 24:20-30

20 quoniam non habent futurorum spem mali et lucerna impiorum extinguetur

21 time Dominum fili mi et regem et cum detractoribus non commiscearis

22 quoniam repente consurget perditio eorum et ruinam utriusque quis novit

23 haec quoque sapientibus cognoscere personam in iudicio non est bonum

24 qui dicit impio iustus es maledicent ei populi et detestabuntur eum tribus

25 qui arguunt laudabuntur et super ipsos veniet benedictio

26 labia deosculabitur qui recta verba respondet

27 praepara foris opus tuum et diligenter exerce agrum tuum ut postea aedifices domum tuam

28 ne sis testis frustra contra proximum tuum nec lactes quemquam labiis tuis

29 ne dicas quomodo fecit mihi sic faciam ei reddam unicuique secundum opus suum

30 per agrum hominis pigri transivi et per vineam viri stulti

Proverbs 24:20-30 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.