1 Be not thou envious H7065 against evil H7451 men, H582 neither desire H183 to be with them.
2 For their heart H3820 studieth H1897 destruction, H7701 and their lips H8193 talk H1696 of mischief. H5999
3 Through wisdom H2451 is an house H1004 builded; H1129 and by understanding H8394 it is established: H3559
4 And by knowledge H1847 shall the chambers H2315 be filled H4390 with all precious H3368 and pleasant H5273 riches. H1952
5 A wise H2450 man H1397 is strong; H5797 yea, a man H376 of knowledge H1847 increaseth H553 strength. H3581
6 For by wise counsel H8458 thou shalt make H6213 thy war: H4421 and in multitude H7230 of counsellors H3289 there is safety. H8668
7 Wisdom H2454 is too high H7311 for a fool: H191 he openeth H6605 not his mouth H6310 in the gate. H8179
8 He that deviseth H2803 to do evil H7489 shall be called H7121 a mischievous H4209 person. H1167
9 The thought H2154 of foolishness H200 is sin: H2403 and the scorner H3887 is an abomination H8441 to men. H120
10 If thou faint H7503 in the day H3117 of adversity, H6869 thy strength H3581 is small. H6862
11 If thou forbear H2820 to deliver H5337 them that are drawn H3947 unto death, H4194 and those that are ready H4131 to be slain; H2027
12 If thou sayest, H559 Behold, we knew H3045 it not; doth not he that pondereth H8505 the heart H3826 consider H995 it? and he that keepeth H5341 thy soul, H5315 doth not he know H3045 it? and shall not he render H7725 to every man H120 according to his works? H6467
13 My son, H1121 eat H398 thou honey, H1706 because it is good; H2896 and the honeycomb, H5317 which is sweet H4966 to thy taste: H2441
14 So shall the knowledge H3045 of wisdom H2451 be unto thy soul: H5315 when thou hast found H4672 it, then there shall be H3426 a reward, H319 and thy expectation H8615 shall not be cut off. H3772
15 Lay not wait, H693 O wicked H7563 man, against the dwelling H5116 of the righteous; H6662 spoil H7703 not his resting place: H7258
16 For a just H6662 man falleth H5307 seven times, H7651 and riseth up again: H6965 but the wicked H7563 shall fall H3782 into mischief. H7451
17 Rejoice H8055 not when thine enemy H341 falleth, H5307 and let not thine heart H3820 be glad H1523 when he stumbleth: H3782
18 Lest the LORD H3068 see H7200 it, and it displease H7489 H5869 him, and he turn away H7725 his wrath H639 from him.
19 Fret H2734 not thyself because of evil H7489 men, neither be thou envious H7065 at the wicked; H7563
20 For there shall be no reward H319 to the evil H7451 man; the candle H5216 of the wicked H7563 shall be put out. H1846
21 My son, H1121 fear H3372 thou the LORD H3068 and the king: H4428 and meddle H6148 not with them that are given to change: H8138
22 For their calamity H343 shall rise H6965 suddenly; H6597 and who knoweth H3045 the ruin H6365 of them both? H8147
23 These things also belong to the wise. H2450 It is not good H2896 to have respect H5234 of persons H6440 in judgment. H4941
24 He that saith H559 unto the wicked, H7563 Thou art righteous; H6662 him shall the people H5971 curse, H5344 nations H3816 shall abhor H2194 him:
25 But to them that rebuke H3198 him shall be delight, H5276 and a good H2896 blessing H1293 shall come H935 upon them.
26 Every man shall kiss H5401 his lips H8193 that giveth H7725 a right H5228 answer. H1697
27 Prepare H3559 thy work H4399 without, H2351 and make it fit H6257 for thyself in the field; H7704 and afterwards H310 build H1129 thine house. H1004
28 Be not a witness H5707 against thy neighbour H7453 without cause; H2600 and deceive H6601 not with thy lips. H8193
29 Say H559 not, I will do H6213 so to him as he hath done H6213 to me: I will render H7725 to the man H376 according to his work. H6467
30 I went H5674 by the field H7704 of the slothful, H376 H6102 and by the vineyard H3754 of the man H120 void H2638 of understanding; H3820
31 And, lo, it was all grown over H5927 with thorns, H7063 and nettles H2738 had covered H3680 the face H6440 thereof, and the stone H68 wall H1444 thereof was broken down. H2040
32 Then I saw, H2372 and considered it well: H7896 H3820 I looked H7200 upon it, and received H3947 instruction. H4148
33 Yet a little H4592 sleep, H8142 a little H4592 slumber, H8572 a little H4592 folding H2264 of the hands H3027 to sleep: H7901
34 So shall thy poverty H7389 come H935 as one that travelleth; H1980 and thy want H4270 as an armed H4043 man. H376
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 24
Commentary on Proverbs 24 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 24
Pr 24:1-34.
1, 2. (Compare Pr 23:3, 17; Ps 37:1).
2. studieth—meditateth.
talk … mischief—Their expressed purposes are to do evil.
3, 4. (Compare Pr 14:1; Isa 54:14).
house—including the family.
4. by knowledge … riches—(Pr 8:18; 21:20).
5, 6. The general statement (Ec 9:16, 18) is specially illustrated (compare Pr 21:22; Ps 144:1).
7. (Compare Pr 14:16).
in the gate—(Compare Pr 22:22).
8. So called even if he fails to do evil.
9. Same thought varied.
10. Literally, "If thou fail in the day of straits (adversity), strait (or, small) is thy strength," which is then truly tested.
11, 12. Neglect of known duty is sin (Jas 4:17).
ready—literally, "bowing down"
to be slain—that is, unjustly. God's retributive justice cannot be avoided by professed ignorance.
13, 14. As delicious food whets the appetite, so should the rewards of wisdom excite us to seek it.
14. reward—literally, "after part," the proper result (compare Pr 23:18; Ps 37:37, 38).
15, 16. The plots of the wicked against the good, though partially, shall not be fully successful (Ps 37:24); while the wicked, falling under penal evil, find no help.
16. seven times—often, or many (Pr 6:16, 31; 9:1).
17, 18. Yet let none rejoice over the fate of evildoers, lest God punish their wrong spirit by relieving the sufferer (compare Pr 17:5; Job 31:29).
19, 20. (Ps 37:1, 38; 18:28).
20. candle—or, "prosperity"; it shall come to an end (Pr 13:9; 20:20).
21, 22. A warning against impiety and resistance to lawful rule (Ro 13:1-7; 1Pe 2:17).
meddle … change—(Compare Margin), literally, "mingle not yourself," avoid the society of restless persons.
22. their calamity, &c.—either what God and the king inflict, or what changers and their company suffer; better the first.
23. These … wise—literally, "are of the wise," as authors (compare "Psalms of David," Hebrew). "These" refers to the verses following, Pr 24:24-34.
to have respect—literally, "to discern faces," show partiality,
24, 25. of which an example is justifying the wicked, to which is opposed, rebuking him, which has a blessing.
26. kiss his lips—love and obey, do homage (Ps 2:12; So 8:1).
right answer—literally, "plain words" (compare Pr 8:9), opposed to deceptive, or obscure.
27. Prepare … in the field—Secure, by diligence, a proper support, and then build; provide necessaries, then comforts, to which a house rather pertained, in a mild climate, permitting the use of tents.
28. Do not speak even truth needlessly against any, and never falsehood.
29. Especially avoid retaliation (Mt 5:43-45; Ro 12:17).
30, 31. A striking picture of the effects of sloth.
32-34. From the folly of the sluggard learn wisdom (Pr 6:10, 11).