Proverbs 24:6

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. THOU SHALT MAKE THY WAR - in accordance with thine own desires (cf. ; , notes)....

Verse Proverbs 24:6. _BY WISE COUNSEL THOU SHALT MAKE THY WAR_] Proverbs 20:18....

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

FOR BY WISE COUNSEL THOU SHALL MAKE THY WAR,.... Counsel, as well as strength, is necessary for war: kings and states, before they enter on a war, should not only well consider the justness of their cause, but should consult whether they have a sufficiency of men and money to carry it on; and should concert the wisest methods to attack the enemy, or defend themselves; and, above all, should ask counsel of God; see 2 Kings 18:20. And this is true of our spiritual warfare with sin, Satan, the world, and false teachers; which requires not only strength to wage war with them, but wise counsel, that we may be able to understand and guard against their cunning, wiles, and stratagems: and this is principally to be asked of God, who is wonderful in counsel; and of good and experienced men, skilled in those matters; AND IN THE MULTITUDE OF COUNSELLORS [THERE IS] SAFETY; to take

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

MULTITUDE, &C. But they must all be "counsellors". Compare Proverbs 11:10 with Proverbs 15:22....

_safety_ or _victory_, as in 2 Samuel 19:2, and perhaps in 2 Kings 5:1. The first half of this proverb occurs Proverbs 20:18, and the second Proverbs 11:14....

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.

24:6 advice (b-4) Or 'wise counsels,' as chs. 1.5; 11.14; 20.18. safety. (c-18) Or 'victory,' as ch. 11.14....