Proverbs 24 Bible Commentary

24:7 Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the ^a gate.

(a) In the place where wisdom should be shown.

24:10 [If] thou ^b faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.

(b) Man has no trial of his strength till he is in trouble.

24:11 If thou refraineth to deliver [them that are] drawn to ^c death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;

(c) No one can be excused, if he does not help the innocent when he is in danger.

24:13 My son, eat thou ^d honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:

(d) As honey is sweet and pleasant to the taste, so wisdom is to the soul.

24:16 For a just [man] ^e falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

(e) He is subject to many perils, but God delivers him.

24:18 Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath ^f from him.

(f) To be avenged on you.

24:22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them ^g both?

(g) Meaning, either of the wicked and seditious, as in (Proverbs 24:19,21) or of them who do not fear God or obey their king.

24:27 Prepare thy work outside, and make it fit for thyself in the field; ^h and afterwards build thy house.

(h) Be sure of the means how to compass it, before you take any enterprise in hand.

24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I ⁱ will render to the man according to his work.

(i) He shows what is the nature of the wicked, to revenge wrong for wrong.

24:32 Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received ^k instruction.

(k) That I might learn by another man's fault.

24:33 [Yet] a little sleep, ^l a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

(l) See Geneva