Proverbs 24

1 Don't envy evil people or try to be friends with them.

2 Their minds are always planning violence, and they always talk about making trouble.

3 It takes wisdom to have a good family, and it takes understanding to make it strong.

4 It takes knowledge to fill a home with rare and beautiful treasures.

5 Wise people have great power, and those with knowledge have great strength.

6 So you need advice when you go to war. If you have lots of good advice, you will win.

7 Foolish people cannot understand wisdom. They have nothing to say in a discussion.

8 Whoever makes evil plans will be known as a troublemaker.

9 Making foolish plans is sinful, and making fun of wisdom is hateful.

10 If you give up when trouble comes, it shows that you are weak.

11 Save those who are being led to their death; rescue those who are about to be killed.

12 If you say, "We don't know anything about this," God, who knows what's in your mind, will notice. He is watching you, and he will know. He will reward each person for what he has done.

13 My child, eat honey because it is good. Honey from the honeycomb tastes sweet.

14 In the same way, wisdom is pleasing to you. If you find it, you have hope for the future, and your wishes will come true.

15 Don't be wicked and attack a good family's house; don't rob the place where they live.

16 Even though good people may be bothered by trouble seven times, they are never defeated, but the wicked are overwhelmed by trouble.

17 Don't be happy when your enemy is defeated; don't be glad when he is overwhelmed.

18 The Lord will notice and be displeased. He may not be angry with them anymore.

19 Don't envy evil people, and don't be jealous of the wicked.

20 An evil person has nothing to hope for; the wicked will die like a flame that is put out.

21 My child, respect the Lord and the king. Don't join those people who refuse to obey them.

22 The Lord and the king will quickly destroy such people. Those two can cause great disaster!

23 These are also sayings of the wise: It is not good to take sides when you are the judge.

24 Don't tell the wicked that they are innocent; people will curse you, and nations will hate you.

25 But things will go well if you punish the guilty, and you will receive rich blessings.

26 An honest answer is as pleasing as a kiss on the lips.

27 First, finish your outside work and prepare your fields. After that, you can build your house.

28 Don't testify against your neighbor for no good reason. Don't say things that are false.

29 Don't say, "I'll get even; I'll do to him what he did to me."

30 I passed by a lazy person's field and by the vineyard of someone with no sense.

31 Thorns had grown up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds, and the stone walls had fallen down.

32 I thought about what I had seen; I learned this lesson from what I saw.

33 You sleep a little; you take a nap. You fold your hands and lie down to rest.

34 Soon you will be as poor as if you had been robbed; you will have as little as if you had been held up.

Proverbs 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

Verses 1-2 Envy not sinners. And let not a desire ever come into thy mind, Oh that I could shake off restraints! ( 3-6 ) . Piety and prudence in outward affairs, both go together to complete a wise man. By knowledge the soul is filled with the graces and comforts of the spirit, those precious and pleasant riches. The spirit is strengthened for the spiritual work and the spiritual warfare, by true wisdom. ( 7-9 ) . A weak man thinks wisdom is too high for him, therefore he will take no pains for it. It is bad to do evil, but worse to devise it. Even the first risings of sin in the heart are sin, and must be repented of. Those that strive to make others hateful, make themselves so. Verse 10 . Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good ( proverbs 24:11-12 ) know that his neighbour is in danger by any unjust proceeding, he is bound to do all in his power to deliver him. And what is it to suffer immortal souls to perish, when our persuasions and ( proverbs 24:13-14 ) quickened to the study of wisdom by considering both the pleasure and the profit of it. All men relish things that are sweet to the palate; but many have no relish for the things that are sweet to the purified soul, and that make us wise unto ( proverbs 24:15-16 ) do, by stumbling at some stone in his path; but gets up, and goes on his way with more care and speed. This is rather to be understood of falls into affliction, than falls into actual sin. ( proverbs 24:17-18 ) ( proverbs 24:19-20 ) ( proverbs 24:21-22 ) The godly in the land, will be quiet in the land. There may be cause to change for the better, but have nothing to do with them that are given change. ( 23-26 ) . The wisdom God giveth, renders a man fit for his station. Every one who finds the benefit of the right answer, will be attached to him that gave it. Verse 27 . We must prefer necessaries before conveniences, and not go in debt. ( proverbs 24:28-29 ) ( 30-34 ) . See what a blessing the husbandman's calling is, and what a wilderness this earth would be without it. See what great difference there is in the management even of worldly affairs. Sloth and self-indulgence are the bane of all good. When we see fields overgrown with thorns and thistles, and the fences broken down, we see an emblem of the far more deplorable state of many souls. Every vile affection grows in men's hearts; yet they compose themselves to sleep. Let us show wisdom by doubling our diligence in every good thing.

Chapter Summary

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.