Proverbs 24:29

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. SAY NOT, I WILL DO SO TO HIM AS HE HATH DONE TO ME - (.)...

A protest against vindictiveness in every form. Compare marginal reference....

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

SAY NOT, I WILL DO SO TO HIM AS HE HATH DONE TO ME,.... He has falsely accused and reproached me, and bore a false testimony, or suborned false witnesses against me, and I will do the same to him, now an opportunity serves; but as private revenge itself is sinful, so especially when it is pursued in a wicked way; I WILL RENDER TO THE MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORK; this should be left to the Lord, whose prerogative it is; see Proverbs 24:19....

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 ...

SECOND DIVISION, PROVERBS 24:23. This section constitutes the second division of the Sayings of the Wise, as Proverbs 24:23 a indicates. It contains a short collection of sayings varying in form and character, resembling in the main those of Proverbs 22:17 to Proverbs 24:22. The greater part (Proverbs 24:30) is a vivid description of the effects of slothfulness, which may be compared with the passage on the drunkard in Proverbs 23:29

AS. according as. UNDERSTANDING. Hebrew "heart": put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Adjunct), App-6, for the discernment coming from it. See note on Proverbs 1:2....

See Proverbs 25:22 and note there....

TEXT Proverbs 24:23-34 23. These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good. 24. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him; 25. But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them. 26. He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer. 27. Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house. 28. Be not a witness against thy neighbor 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. 30. I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man void of unders

5. Read, 'A wise man is better than a warrior, and a man of knowledge than a man of strength.'...