Proverbs 24:24-34

24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.

25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.

26 An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.

27 Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.

28 Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them.

29 And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”

30 I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense.

31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.

32 Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:

33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—

34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Proverbs 24:24-34 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.