Proverbs 24:4

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. BY KNOWLEDGE - of God, and of our duty to Him, to our neighbour, and to ourselves. ALL PRECIOUS AND PLEASANT RICHES - the true riches which fail not, first of the soul, ultimately of the body and external condition (; )....

The “house” is figurative of the whole life, the “chambers” of all regions, inward and outward, of it....

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

AND BY KNOWLEDGE SHALT THE CHAMBERS BE FILLED WITH ALL PRECIOUS AND PLEASANT RICHES. That are both of worth, value, and usefulness, and for ornament and delight; the more private and retired parts of a man's dwelling house, as well as his shops, warehouses, barns, and granaries, shall be filled with all kind of valuable substance, through his knowledge in improving trade or husbandry, in which he is concerned. This may be understood spiritually, of the fulness which the church has from Christ, and of those unsearchable riches of his she receives from him; and of those treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which the chambers of the soul of a believer are filled with by him; and of all the riches put into them, which are both precious and pleasant; such as precious promises, pleasant doctrines, the valuable truths of the Gospel, and blessings of grace....

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

CHAMBERS. inner chambers....

_shall … be_ Rather, ARE....

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.

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