Proverbs
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Proverbs 24
Proverbs 24
1Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Commentary · verse 1
2For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.
2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
Commentary · verse 2
Evil men's hearts meditated (thought deeply) on destruction.
3Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established; 4And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches.
3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Commentary · verses 3-4
Through wisdom a house was built (created), understanding would establish it (foundation), knowledge (facts that were retained) would fill it.
5A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.
6For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Commentary · verses 5-6
Our wars ought to be fought with words, wise guidance. See 2 Corinthians 10.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Commentary · verse 7
Wisdom was out of reach for those who had no understanding.
8He that deviseth to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker.
8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Commentary · verse 8
Those who thought to do evil caused evil.
9The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
10If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.
9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Commentary · verses 9-10
Strength in the day of adversity came from God. Those who fainted in those times were "small" in strength. "Strength" was "the ability to handle a sudden conflict." In this case, the "conflict" was adversity.
11Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this; Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?
11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Commentary · verses 11-12
Even if you SAY you do not know something, God knows your heart and you will be judged for every action you have done. The heart does not lie.
13My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste: 14So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul; If thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off.
15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; Destroy not his resting-place: 16For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Commentary · verses 13-16
Encouragement to the wicked to not be against the righteous because the righteous would keep on standing when they fell; the righteous would repair the wrongs they had done.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown; 18Lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Commentary · verses 17-18
Do not be glad when your enemy falls. If you take action from this gladness, it could cause God to stop the wrath against them. Forgive your enemies and God will judge them. To forgive meant "to state your will that you will not equal out your own Justice." This would allow God to equal out the injustice.
19Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; Neither be thou envious at the wicked: 20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Do not worry yourself with evil-doers. They will not be rewarded and God will judge them.
21My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; And company not with them that are given to change: 22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knoweth it?
23These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him; 25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Commentary · verses 21-25
Those who rebuked (confronted) the wicked would be given blessings. It ought to be done the right way (HOW) and for the right reason (WHY), even if the wicked did not repent.
26He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.
27Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.
26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Commentary · verses 26-27
We ought to plan out and administrate our work before we start. If we do not, it could be flawed.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Commentary · verse 28
Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Doctrines on this passage
29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Commentary · verse 29
This was equaling out your own Justice. Remember, forgiveness was stating your will that you will not equal out your own Justice. If we equal out Justice ourselves, we relieve God of the ability to equal out Justice Himself.
30I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.
30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Commentary · verses 30-31
The work of a slothful man who had no understanding would be overgrown with things that hindered growth.
32Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:
32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Commentary · verse 32
Considering well led to receiving instruction. Instruction was being corrected. Considering well led to this because it included considering where you could be wrong.
33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep; 34So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.
33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Commentary · verses 33-34
Spiritual riches would come through contrastive thinking (receiving instruction, counsel) but with the slightest laziness (comparative thinking) would come spiritual poverty.
Commentary · verse 34
Proverbs 22-24 covered three chapters that gave several specific applications of the themes of the previous chapters. In fact, the examples almost read like a final list, as if this was the end of the Book of Proverbs.
Do not be jealous of evil men or desire to be with them. Evil men were destructive.