Proverbs 24:1

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. EVIL MEN, NEITHER DESIRE TO BE WITH THEM - i:e., to share in their ways. ; shows the evil results of their ways, which ought to warn all how little they are to be envied, much less imitated....

CHAPTER XXIV _Do not be envious. Of the house wisely built. Counsel necessary_ _in war. Save life when thou canst. Of honey and the honey-comb._ _Of the just that falleth seven times. We should not rejoice at_ _the misfortune of others. Ruin of the wicked. Fear God and the_ _king. Prepare thy work. The field of the sluggard, and the_ _vineyard of the foolish, described._ NOTES ON CHAP. XXIV...

A lesson given before, now combined with another. True followers after wisdom will admit neither envy of evil on the one hand, nor admiration or fellowship with it on the other....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 24:1 We return here to the more usual form, the tetrastich. BE NOT THOU ENVIOUS AGAINST EVIL MEN (see on Proverbs 23:17, where a similar warning is given, and comp. Proverbs 23:19 below). "Men of wickedness," wholly given over to evil. NEITHER DESIRE TO BE WITH THEM. Their company is pollution, and association with them makes you a partner in their sinful doings. The Septuagint prefaces the paragraph with the personal address, υἱέ_ _"son." PROVERBS 24:2 For their heart studie

BE NOT THOU ENVIOUS AGAINST EVIL MEN,.... Or, "men of evil" b. Such who are addicted to evil, and given up to it, whose principles and practices are bad; such as are before described in the preceding chapter; gluttons and drunkards, men given to women and wine: envy not their present prosperity, or seeming pleasure they have in the gratification of their sensual appetites; since woe and sorrow, wounds and strife, now attend them, and poverty and want will follow them; as well as everlasting ruin and destruction will be their portion hereafter; Proverbs 23:17; and compare with this Proverbs 24:21; NEITHER DESIRE TO BE WITH THEM; to be in their company; to have any conversation and fellowship with them, which is very infectious, dangerous, and pernicious; nor even to b

CHAPTER 24 INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED In the final instructions of this chapter we find first a description of the evil men. Their heart studieth destruction; their lips talk mischief. This theme is repeatedly referred to in this chapter. In Proverbs 24:15 the evil man is addressed not to lay wait for the righteous and not to spoil his resting place. The Lord takes care of the righteous; he may be overcome by misfortunes seven times, yet will he rise again. Different it is with the wicked when he falls into mischief. Yet there must be no rejoicing over the fall of the enemy, nor gladness when he stumbled. This displeaseth the Lord. Still higher is the command of the New Testament, “Love your enemies; ... recompense no man evil for evil; ... overcome evil with good.” There is to be no fretting because of evil men nor envy ...

PROVERBS 24:7 A. Lit. Wisdom is corals to the fool. RV involves a change m the text, which gives perhaps the best sense that can be made of an obviously corrupt stanza. Proverbs 24:9. thought: the word means plan or device, and is used in both a good and a bad sense in Pr. Here the meaning is that sin is the kind of plan which folly engages in, sin is folly's plan. Proverbs 24:10. An incomplete aphorism. As it stands its probable meaning is, If thou art slack, thy strength will be narrow (_i.e._ restricted) in the day of trouble. Proverbs 24:11 f. The Heb. is not unambiguous and shows

BE NOT THOU ENVIOUS. Do not get excited. Compare Proverbs 23:17....

_Be not thou envious_ Comp. Proverbs 23:17....

CHAPTER 24 TEXT Proverbs 24:1-12 1. Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them: 2. For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief. 3. Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established; 4. And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches. 5. A wise man is strong; Yes, a man of knowledge increaseth might. 6. For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. 7. Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate. 8. He that deviseth to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker. 9. The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.