Proverbs

Proverbs 24 ©

Various observations of moral virtues and their contrary vices.

1

BE not thou aenvious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

a Ps. 37.1,7; 73.3; 26.9. ch. 23.17; 3.31. v.19.
2

For btheir heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

b Es. 3.6,7. Ex. 1.10. Ps. 10.7; 31.13; 64.2,3; 56.5,6; 57.3,4; 109.2-5.
3

cThrough wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

c ch. 14.1; 3.13-19; 4.5-13; 8.18-21; 9.1. 1Ti. 4.8.
4

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with dall precious and pleasant riches.

d ch. 20.15.
5

A ewise man is 1strong; yea, a man of knowledge 2increaseth strength.

e ch. 21.22. 2Sa. 20.16. Ec. 9.14-16. Col. 1.11; 3.10; 2.19.
6

For fby wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

f ch. 11.14; 15.22; 20.18. Lu. 14.31,32.
7

gWisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

g 1Co. 2.14. Ps. 10.5. ch. 14.6.
8

He hthat deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

h ch. 14.22; 23.7; 6.14,18. Is. 32.7. Ps. 41.7.
9

The ithought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

i Mat. 5.28. Ac. 8.22. Ge. 6.5; 8.21. ch. 22.10. Mat. 15.19. v.8.
10

If jthou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is 3small.

j He. 12.5. Ho. 7.11. 1Sa. 27.1.
11

If kthou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

k Ps. 82.4. ch. 14.25. Is. 58.6,7. 1Jn. 3.17. Ja. 2.15,16; 5.19,20. 2Ti. 2.26.
12

If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that lpondereth the heart consider it? and he mthat keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and shall not he render to every man according nto his works?

l Je. 17.10. Ps. 17.3; 26.2; 139.1,2; 147.5. ch. 21.2.
m Job 7.10. Ps. 16.1; 17.5,8; 121.3-8.
n Job 34.11. Ps. 62.12. Je. 32.19. Ro. 2.6. Re. 22.12.
13

My son, oeat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet 4to thy taste:

o Is. 7.15,22. Ca. 5.1. Mat. 3.4. ch. 25.16.
14

pSo shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, qthen there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

p Ps. 19.10; 119.103. Je. 15.16. ch. 3.17; 16.24.
q ch. 23.18. Ps. 58.11; 9.18. Mat. 19.28,29. 1Co. 15.58.
15

rLay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

r Ps. 10.8-10; 37.32; 56.6; 59.3; 140.4,5; 142.3. 1Sa. 19.11.
16

For sa just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

s Job 5.19, Ps. 34.19; 37.24; 79.12. Mi. 7.8-10. Am. 5.2; 8.14. Es. 7.10.
17

tRejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

t Job 31.29. Ps. 35.15,19; 41.8,11. ch. 17.5. Ro. 12.19.
18

Lest the LORD see it, and 5it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19

6*Fret not thyself ubecause of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

u Ps. 37.1,7; 73.3. ch. 23.17. Je. 12.1. v.1.
20

For vthere shall be no reward to the evil man; wthe 7candle of the wicked shall be put out.

v Ps. 11.6. Is. 3.11.
w Job 21.17; 18.5,6. ch. 13.9.
21

My son, xfear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with 8them that are given to change:

x Ex. 1.17. Ac. 5.29. 1Pe. 2.13-17. Ro. 13.1-4. Nu. 16.2,3. 2Sa. 15.20.
22

For ytheir calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

y Nu. 16. 2Sa. 18; 20. 1Ki. 1. 1Th. 5.3. 2Pe. 2.1,3.
23

zThese things also belong to the wise. It is anot good to have respect of persons in judgment.

a Le. 19.15. De. 1.17; 16.19. ch. 18.5; 28.21. Jn. 7.24. Ro. 2.11. Ja. 2.1. 1Ti. 5.21. Mat. 22.16.
z ch. 25.1.
24

He bthat saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

b ch. 17.15. Is. 5.23. Eze. 13.22. Ex. 23.7.
25

cBut to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and 9a good blessing shall come upon them.

c Ps. 15.4. Mat. 14.4.
26

dEvery man shall kiss his lips 10that giveth a right answer.

d Da. 2.48; 5.29.
27

ePrepare thy work *without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

e 1Ki. 5.18; 6.7. Lu. 14.28,29.
28

fBe not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

f Ex. 20.16; 23.1. Ep. 4.25. Col. 3.9. Le. 19.11. ch. 19.5,9; 14.5; 25.18.
29

gSay not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

g ch. 20.22. Mat. 5.39-45. Ro. 12.17,19. Ep. 4.31,32. v.17.
30

I hwent by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

h Ps. 37.25. ch. 6.6-11. Ca. 1.6. Job 5.3.
31

And, ilo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone jwall thereof was broken down.

i ch. 19.24; 21.25; 22.13. Ec. 10.18. Ge. 3.18. Mat. 13.22. He. 6.8.
j Is. 5.5.
32

Then I saw, and 11considered it well: I looked upon it, and kreceived instruction.

k De. 13.11; 32.29. Ps. 4.4. 1Co. 10.6,11.
33

Yet la little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

l ch. 6.9-11. Ec. 4.5.
34

mSo shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as 12an armed man.

m ch. 10.4; 13.4; 20.4.