Proverbs 24

1 Have no envy for evil men, or any desire to be with them:

2 For the purposes of their hearts are destruction, and their lips are talking of trouble.

3 The building of a house is by wisdom, and by reason it is made strong:

4 And by knowledge its rooms are full of all dear and pleasing things.

5 A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge makes strength greater.

6 For by wise guiding you will overcome in war: and in a number of wise guides there is salvation.

7 Wisdom is outside the power of the foolish: he keeps his mouth shut in the public place.

8 He whose purposes are bad will be named a man of evil designs.

9 The purpose of the foolish is sin: and the hater of authority is disgusting to others.

10 If you give way in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

11 Be the saviour of those who are given up to death, and do not keep back help from those who are slipping to destruction.

12 If you say, See, we had no knowledge of this: does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?

13 My son, take honey, for it is good; and the flowing honey, which is sweet to your taste:

14 So let your desire be for wisdom: if you have it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not keep a secret watch, O evil-doer, against the fields of the upright man, or send destruction on his resting-place:

16 For an upright man, after falling seven times, will get up again: but trouble is the downfall of the evil.

17 Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:

18 For fear that the Lord may see it, and it may be evil in his eyes, and his wrath may be turned away from him.

19 Do not be troubled because of evil-doers, or have envy of sinners:

20 For there will be no future for the evil man; the light of sinners will be put out.

21 My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:

22 For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?

23 These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.

24 He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.

25 But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.

26 He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.

27 Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.

28 Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.

29 Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.

30 I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;

31 And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.

32 Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got teaching from it.

33 A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:

34 So loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man.

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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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

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.