Proverbs 24
DortEnvying, and company of wicked persons, scorners and fools, also their nature and condition, verse 1,2,8,9,15,16,19,20. Wisdom and counsel, 4,5,6,7,13,14. Fainting, 10. Delivering the innocent, 11,12. The condition of the righteous, 15,16. Rejoicing at anothers, 17,18. Fear of God, and of the King, also sedition, 21,22. The office of a Judge, 23,24,25. Right answer, 26. House-keeping and tillage, 27. Witnesses, desire of revenge, 28,29. Slothfulness, 30.etc.
1. Be not (thou) envious against wicked men; [See Psal.37.on verse 1. And 73.3. above chap.3.31. and 23.17. before verse 19. Hebr. Men of wickedness, or, of evil; that is, men that are addicted unto wickedness, or that proud and bent to all evil. See Job 11.on verse 11.] and covet not to be with them.
2. For their heart deviseth desolation, [That is, harm, and destruction, which they intend to do unto their neighbour, yea will also thereby bring the same upon themselves] and their lips speak trouble. [Compare Psal.107.]
3. Through wisdom is an house builded; and by, understanding (it is) established. [Understand this not onely of a material house, but principally of house-keeping, and of the means, whereby an house, or family is maintained. So is the word house taken, Gen.39.4. and the word building, or, to build, above chap.4.1. See the Annot. The meaning is, that a good house-keeping is ordered and managed by wisdom and understanding, and is thereby great advanced and maintained.]
4. And by knowledge are the inner chambers filled with all precious and pleasant goods.
5. A wise man is strong: [Hebr. In strength: that is, indued with strength. Understand not the outward and bodily strength, but the inward and spiritual strength] and a man of knowledge maketh strength sure. [that is, if so be he have outward strength, knowledge will make him yet stronger. Therefore he excellent also a man that is, strong, and yet hath no understanding. In brief, wisdom is better then strength. Compare above chap.21.22. Eccles.9.15.]
6. For by wise counsels [See of the Hebrew word, Job 37:12.] shalt thou wage war for thy self: [That is, for thy good, or for thy benefit, and the welfare of the Land] and in the multitude of counsellors [to wit, of good counsellors. See above chap.18.on verse 22. Or, in the greatness; that is, worthiness, sitness, and wisdom of them] is the victory. [Or, safety. See of the signification of the Hebrew word teschuah, 2 Sam.8. on verse 6. Compare above chap.11.14. and 15 22. And 20.18.]
7. All wisdom [Hebr. Wisdoms] is too high for the fool: [that is, is above his apprehension: but wisdom is easy to a man of understanding, above chap.14.6.] he shall not open his mouth [to wit, to utter some special and excellent matter, forasmuch as he is without wisdom and counsel. Compare Job 33. And the annot.on verse 2.] in the gate, [that is, in the Senate-house, or in the assembly of Lords. See Gen.22.on verse 17.]
8. He that deviseth to do evil, he shall be called a Master [That is, a practitioner, and an evil artificer, that is prone to villainy and mischief, and knoweth how to put it in practice. See of the Hebrew word Baal, Gen.14.on verse 13.] of wicked intentions. [See of the Hebrew word, Job 21.on verse 27.]
9. The thought of foolishness [That is, of the man, that is foolish. Compare Job 24.on verse 20. And 35.on verse 13. Or, the foolish thought] is sin: and a scorner is an abomination to man.
10. (If) thou shew thy self feeble [To wit, so that thou faintest under adversity and temptations] in the day of distress, [that is, when a man should have the best trial of his strength is narrow. [that is, small, mean, nipt, shrunk, restrained. This verse is also thus rendered: (If) thou shew thy self slack, that is, negligent to learn wisdom, and careless to fear God, thy strength shall be narrow, or, strained in the day of thy distress]
11. deliver them that are taken unto death: [Namely, wrongfully. This doth properly concern Judges, and Magistrates, who by virtue of their office are bound to defend the innocent, yea even when they are condemned to die, and have the sentence of death past upon them, if so be that at last their innocency may appear. Compare Psal.82.4. Moreover, it concerneth also all godly people in general, who according to the nature and condition of their calling, and by lawful means, are bound to protect and help those that be innocent] for the reel unto the slaughter, [or, are carried away, or, bend down to the slaughter; that is, they are in danger to be put to death,] if thou refrain thy self. [Oth. For shouldest thou refrain thy self from those that are haled away to be put to death? This question implyeth a strong denial, that this thing should be neglected by those, who by reason of their office are bound to use all good means for the performing of it]
12. When thou sayest, Behold we know it not; [Namely, that he is innocent, or how we may be able to help him. Oth. We know him not or, we know not this man] shall not he that pondereth the heart, [that is, God. See above chap.16.2. and the annotate.] consider (it)? And he that looketh to thy soul, [to wit, not onely in respect of temporal, but also of eternal death] shall not know it? [namely, whether thy excuse be true, and well-grounded] for he [to wit, God, who pondereth the hearts, &c.] will reward a man according to his work. [Compare Job 34:11. Psal.62.13. Jer.32.19. Rom.2.6. Rev.22.12.]
13. Eat honey, my son, for it is good: and the honeycomb is sweet for the palate. [That is, in thy mouth. Unto the palate taste is attributed and ascribed, Job 12:1. and 34.3. honey was a common, and a very dainty and pleasant food in Palestina. Compare Exod.3.on verse 8. Now the prophet relateth, that it might indeed be eaten for the good, and nourishment of the body, but that men should chiefly and principally seek and endeavour after wisdom, which is a most pleasant and acceptable food for the soul]
14. Such is the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: [Oth. So know wisdom (to be) for thy soul. Compare Psal.19.11. and 119.103.] when thou findest it, [that it, gettest, or obtainest it. So above chap.8.9. See Gen.26.on verse 12.] then there shall be a reward: [Hebr. A last, or, hindermost: that is, a good after-reward. See below verse 20. Compare also above chap.23.18.] and thine expectation [that is, the good which thou expectest and lookest for of Gods free grace. See Job 5.on vers.16.] shall not be cut off.
15. Lurk not, O wicked man, for the dwelling of the righteous: waste not his ramping place. [He forbiddeth next to crafty devices, also open violence.]
16. For the righteous man shall fall [To wit, into miseries and troubles. So in the next verse also, Psal.37.24. Or also into sins, and infirmities, whereunto also the godly are also said to fall, 1 Cor.10.12.] seven times [that is, often, a certain number for an uncertain. See Lev.26.on verse 8.] and rise up (again): [that is, be delivered and helped out, to wit, by Gods gracious assistance, Job 5:19. Psal.34.20.] but the wicked shall stumble down into evil. [to wit, into the evil of punishment, and of adversity; that is, they shall be so cast down, as that they shall not be able to rise again.
17. Be not glad when thine enemy falleth: [To wit, into mischief, or trouble. Compare Job 13.29. above chapter 17.5.] and let not thine heart rejoice, when he staumbleth down;
18. Lest the LORD see it, and (it) be evil in his eyes: [That is, displease him. See Genesis 21.on verse 11.] and (he) turn away his wrath from him. [To wit, to turn it against thee.]
19. Kindle not thy self because of evil doers: be not envious against the wicked: [Compare Psalms 37:1. and 73.3. above chapter 3.31. and 23.17. and here verse 1.]
20. For the evil (man) shall have no reward: [Meaning no good, or desired reward, or, no good end. See above chapter 18.on verse 22. Heb. Hindermost, or, uttermost, or, end. But the Hebrew word is also taken for reward. See above chapter 23.on verse 18. Oth.posterity; the wicked man shall have no posterity, and if he get any, they shall perish, whereunto the following verse is applied by some] the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. [see ab.ch.20.on v.20. Job 18.on v.6. and Prov.13.9.]
21. My son, fear the LORD, and the King: and mingle not thy self with them that stand for a changed. [Hebr. With them that change. That is, those that are addicted to changes, and novelties, departing from the obedience which they owe unto God, and to their lawful Magistrate, and rising up in rebellion against them.]
22. For their destruction shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruine of them both? [As if he had said; A judgement shall light upon them, whereof they had not the least thought: or whereof a man is not able know or conjecture, how heavy it shall be. Of them both; to wit, as well of those that fear not God, as of those that doe not stand in awe of the civil Magistrate. Or, the mischief of those two: to wit, which shall be sent upon them both by God, and the King.]
23. These (proverbs) are also (the proverbs) of the wise. [Or, (belong) to the wise, or (are) for the wise, or, concern the wise] To know the face in judgement [see Deut.1.17. and the annot. Also ch.16.19. The same is elsewhere called accepting, and honouring the face. See Lev.19.15. and the annot. Compare also Exod.23.3,6. Deut.16.19. above chapter 18.5. and below chapter 28.21. John 7:24. James 2:1.] is not good. [that is, it is evil, it is odious. See above chapter 17.on verse 26.]
24. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; [Compare above chapter 17.15. Isa.5.23. and 24. 24.] him shall the people [to wit, that are good, and godly, that hate wickedness, and love virtue and piety. Compare above chapter 18.32. on the word wife] curse, the nations shall be angry with him:
25. But for them that rebuke (him), [To wit, the wicked man] shall be delight; [that is, it shall go well with them, matter of joy and comfort shall be given unto them] and the blessing of good shall come upon them. [that is, all good shall happen unto them, both from God and men. Upon them; to wit, upon those that rebuke the wicked.]
26. They shall kiss the lips of him that answereth right words. [The meaning is, that he uttereth good matter, and speaketh profitable words in due season, shall be honoured, and love of those that hear him, even as if they received and entertained him with a friendly kiss. In old time kissing was a token of reverence, and a manifestation of good will. See Gen.27.on verse 26. And 41. On verse 40. Oth. He kisseth the lips, that answereth right words. That is, he sheweth the most, or the greatest friendship.]
27. Order thy work without, and prepare it for thy self in the field, and afterwards build thine house [Understand this latter clause not so much of the building of an house, as of the trimming of it up, and setting of it out. The meaning of the whole verse is this: Remember first to furnish thine house with that which is most needful, to get thy living in an honest way, as by means of tillage, and the like; then after that thou mayest think of that which may tend to the recreation and delight of those that be of the family, and to the beautifying and adoring of the house.]
28. Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; [That is, without considerable and apparent necessity, which bindeth a man to give in evidence: or without good certainty and assurance of the thing, that is to be witnessed] for shouldest thou seduce [that is, by giving in false, or uncertain evidence, or else by suborning witnesses] with thy lip? [that is, with thy words and speeches. See Job 2.on verse 10.]
29. Say not, Like as he hath done to me, so will I do to him: I will recompense to every one according to his work. [Compare Rom.12.17,19.]
30. I went by the field of a slothful man, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding: [See above ch.6.on verse 32.]
31. And lo, it [To wit, the field, or vineyard] was all grown over with thistles; the face thereof was covered (with) nettles, the stone-partition-wall thereof was broken down. [in Palestina, the fields, farms, and vineyards were for the most part separated and divided one from another by some slight kind of walls made of stones heaped and piled up together, without any lime or morter at all, that wild beasts might not spoil or hurt them. Comp. Numb.22.24. Ezra 9.on verse 9. Psalms 80:13.]
32. When I beheld it, I took it to heart, [Hebr. I set mine heart (upon it:) that is, I observed, and considered it. Compare the phrase with Job 1:8. and the annot. Thereon] I saw it, and received instruction. [that is, I became wiser by another mans harm.]
33. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands, lying down: [See the exposition of this verse, and of the next verse that follows, above chapter 6, on verse 10, 11.]
34. So shall thy poverty come upon (thee as) a traveller, and thy manifold want as an armed man. [Hebr. A man of the shield.]