Proverbs 29:24

24 He that taketh part with a thief, hateth his soul; he heareth a man charging greatly, and showeth not. (He who taketh part with a thief, hateth his own soul; he heareth someone telling many lies, but he declareth it not.)

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Proverbs 29:24 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:24

Whoso is partner with a thief
That robs and steals, and raises away another man's property; which to do is sinful and contrary to the law of God, and punishable by it; and so it is to join with him in the theft, or to devise, or consent unto it; or to receive the stolen goods, or to hide and conceal them; or to hide the thief, or the theft, and not declare them; see ( Psalms 50:18 ) ( Isaiah 1:23 ) . Such an one hateth his own soul;
that is, he is not careful of it, he is not concerned for its welfare as he should be; for otherwise no man, properly speaking, hates his own flesh or body, and much less his soul; but he is negligent of the good of it, and, for the sake of the mammon of unrighteousness, runs the risk of the ruin of it; by which he shows that he loves the world more than his own soul; when the profit of the whole world is nothing to the soul of man, ( Matthew 16:26 ) ; see ( Proverbs 8:36 ) ; he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth [it] not;
or "does not declare it" {b}; he heareth the cursing of those that have lost their goods, and yet he does not declare where they are, and who is the author of the theft, though he knows; or, being suspected of being concerned in it, or, at least, of knowing who did it, be is had before a civil magistrate, and an oath is given him, which he takes, and yet he conceals the matter: which is an aggravation of his sin, and brings ruin to his soul. So the Targum,

``an oath is determined (or brought to him) and he confesseth not.''
Some understand this of a distinct evil, of hearing cursing and swearing, and taking the name of God in vain, and blasphemy against him; yet, through fear of incurring the displeasure of men, and being reckoned a busy body, or through indifference and want of zeal for the glory of God, do not discover it, or inform of it, to a proper person, for the punishment of such; see ( Leviticus 5:1 ) ; and render the words F3, as "he that is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; [so] he that heareth cursing, and betrayeth it not."
FOOTNOTES:

F2 (dygy alw) "et non indicat", Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Cocceius, Schultens, Michaelis.
F3 So Gejerus.

Proverbs 29:24 In-Context

22 A wrathful man stirreth chidings; and he that is light to have indignation, shall be more inclined to sins. (An angry person stirreth up arguments; and he who is quick to have indignation, shall be more inclined to sin.)
23 Lowness followeth a proud man; and glory shall up-take a meek man of spirit. (Lowness followeth the proud; but honour shall come to those with a humble spirit.)
24 He that taketh part with a thief, hateth his soul; he heareth a man charging greatly, and showeth not. (He who taketh part with a thief, hateth his own soul; he heareth someone telling many lies, but he declareth it not.)
25 He that dreadeth a man, shall fall soon; he that hopeth in the Lord, shall be raised [up]. (He who feareth someone, shall soon fall; but he who hopeth in the Lord, shall be raised up.)
26 Many men seek the face of the prince; and the doom of all men shall go forth of the Lord. (Many people seek favour from a leader; but for all people judgement, or justice, shall come from the Lord.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.