Proverbs 24:7-17

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.

8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.

9 The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 [If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.

11 Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:

14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.

16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;

Proverbs 24:7-17 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 'Jewels (lit. 'high-priced things') for a fool are wisdom.'
• [b]. There is a play on the words 'trouble' and 'small.'
• [c]. As 1Sam. 2.3; 'meted,' Isa. 40.12.
• [d]. Or 'know.'
• [e]. Lit. 'evil,' as chs. 17.20; 28.14.