Proverbs 24
Get good counsel and keep good friends
Be strong when in trouble
Love your enemy
Don't be lazy
Text
Explanation
 1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
 2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
  1 - Neither desire to be with them Evil is enticing for some – especially for young people gaining their independence from the family nest ps0101, pr0414, 2ti0222.
.3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
 5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 
 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
  3 - House builded See pr0901.
 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
 8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
 9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
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 10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.   Some try to escape reality when they need to be responsible. Alcohol and denial are escape vehicles.
.11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
.12 If 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? 
  11 - Forbear to deliver We have responsibilities both physical and spiritual to those around us ge0409, lu1031, ez0318.
  12 - He that pondereth the heart When others don't know, God who reads the heart 1sa1607 takes our motives into account ec1214.
 13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 
.14 So 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.
  13,14 - Eat ... honey As honey is naturally sweet and enjoyable, so is wisdom.
  14 - Reward "literally, 'after part,' the proper result (compare Pr 23:18; Ps 37:37,38).
 15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
.16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
  15 - Lay not wait Or, don't hope for or plot evil against the security of a righteous person.
  16 - Just man ... falleth ... riseth True security is spiritual. A righteous person, though hurt but his faith is not shaken. See ps03419, mi0708.
 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
  Enemy falleth We are to love our enemies as Jesus does. This is not a natural attitude but the Lord helps us when we ask mt0543. Also ez3311, lu1941, ho1108.
  See it ... turn away wrath God allows our enemy to stumble in order to help him see his spiritual need. When the enemy hears us rejoice over his trouble, he begins to see God as a tyrant so God turns and protects the fallen one to keep the lesson from being completely lost. We may assume that the wrath is then on our heads.
 19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; 
.20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
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 21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: 
 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
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 23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. 
.26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
  24 - Respect of persons That is, treating some better when they do not deserve it. See pr1805, v24.
 27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. =
 28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
 29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
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 30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 
.33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
  30 - Field ... vineyard Two primary sources of food.
  31 - All grown over Does this happen to our spiritual lives?
  32 - Instruction The lesson follows.
  34 - One that travelleth Study how this word and the "armed man" in the next verse are used as symbols.
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